‘A big idea is a concept, theme or issue that gives meaning and connection to discrete facts and skills.’  
Wiggins & McTighe, Understanding by Design, Second edition, 2005.

Oxford University Press’ research team in Melbourne has spent the last 18 months developing student materials that not only engage students, but help them connect their learning. Research has revealed that students retain information better when it is connected to major ideas and themes.

Manager of the Oxford Big Ideas Project, Melinda O’Donnell, says: ‘It’s connections, not breadth of coverage, that are important. Understanding ultimately derives from making meaningful connections about important topics. By exploring — not necessarily answering — a few big ideas in great depth, students transcend simple knowledge acquisition and start to develop rich understandings.’

Big ideas underpin all disciplines. They are a powerful pedagogical tool to frame methods of enquiry and make sense of seemingly disparate pieces of knowledge. A philosophy of big ideas enables students, over time, to develop deep, transferable understandings and skills. Big ideas also help teachers and students establish learning priorities for students:        

• What’s most important?
• How does it all fit together?        
• What do I really understand?

    
Big ideas enable better, more effective teaching by:

• Focusing on the knowledge and skills that students need most
• Teaching students to think in different ways
• Revisiting concepts with increasing levels of complexity
• Providing ongoing assessment for learning and as learning
  

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Big Ideas