An Overview of the TfU Framework

The Teaching for Understanding framework links “four cornerstones of pedagogy” with
four elements of planning and instruction.

  Four Central Questions about Teaching    ​

TfU Element Addressing Each Question

1. What shall we teach?        ​

2. What is worth understanding?   ​

3. How shall we teach for understanding?    ​

4. How can students and teachers know what
    students understand and how students can
​    develop deeper understanding?

1. Generative Topics     ​

2. Understanding Goals

3. Understanding Performances

4. Ongoing Assessment

(From Selection from The Project Zero Classroom: New Approaches to Thinking and Understanding and The Project Zero Classroom:Views on Understanding, Ⓒ1997 and renewed 1999, 2007 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College on behalf of Project Zero)