Thus far, we have focused upon models and approaches for determining the purposes that curriculum should fulfill. Other decisions must be made about how to achieve stated purposes and how best to evaluate progress toward goals intended. The choice of emphasizing purpose and content as a first step in curriculum development is arbitrary. Alan Purves has been building curriculum for over twenty years. When was asked to think about the processes by which he developed and arranged materials to effect learning, he realized that existing models are a fine way to look at curriculum but that they don't tell a person how to proceed any more than a blueprint tells where to begin building a house. Purves knows that curriculum reflects the maker's view of the society, the people who are to be affected, and the nature of what is to be learned. However, he thinks the metaphor of a game is the best way to describe the process by which curriculum is built.
Rules for playing the curriculum game center on these pieces: legal constraints and administrative structure. Who is the decision maker in the institute the principal, the teacher, or some more remote body? How does the proposed curriculum fit with other curricula? Other pieces include teacher attitude and capacity, student interests, principles for sequencing activities, activities themselves, and the constraints of time and resources. Obviously, formulating objectives and anticipating possible outcomes are important pieces. Purves believes that the formulating of objectives and outcomes might take place at the same time as the selection and arrangement of materials, just as evaluation can take place during the course of devising the curriculum.
Curriculum is like a board game. J...
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...ol Systems for a Non-Rational World (Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 1986).
4. Thomas McCarthy, ed., The Critical Theory of Jurgen Habermas (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1981).
5. Alan C. Purves, "The Thought Fox and Curriculum Building", in Strategies for Curriculum Development, eds. Jon Schaffarzick and David Hampson (Berkeley: McCutchan, 1975.).
6. Brandt, Ronald and Tyler, Ralph W. "Goals and Objectives" in Fundamental Curriculum Decisions, ASCD Yearbook, ed. Fenwick W. English. Alexandria, VA: 1983.
7. Clatthorn, Allan A. Curriculum Renewal. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 1987.
8. Kaufman, Roger. "Assessing Needs" in Introduction to Performance Technology, ed. R. Smith. Washington, DC: National Society for Performance and Motivation, 1986.
9. Mathematical Science Education Board Curriculum Framework for K-12 Mathematics. Washington, DC: Mathematical Science Education Board, 1987.
Different theories present own opinion of the most effective way through curriculum models. ‘Curriculum models are approaches or procedures for implementing a curriculum’. (Wilson, 2009: 522) Commonly curriculum are described as product, process and praxis. While curriculum as a product depends on the objectives as the learning goals and the measured means, a process model focuses on learning and relationship between learner and teacher. Chosen curriculum model depends on teaching and assessment strategies in some cases determinate by awarding bodies, organisational constrains, funding body and political initiatives. The dominant modes of describing and managing education are today couched in the productive form. Objectives are set, a plan drawn up, then applied, and the outcomes (products) measured. It is a way of thinking about education that has grown in influence in the United Kingdom since the late 1970s with the rise of ‘vocationalism’ and the concern of competencies. In the late 1980s and the 1990s many of the debates about the National Curriculum for schools did not so much concern how the curriculum was thought about as to what its objectives and content might be. (Wilson, 2009)
...m while having freedom to choose how to teach it. This allows the curriculum to become more personable. Teachers currently associate curriculum with government mandates. They believe that curriculum is what they are told to teach instead of what is desired to learn. Curriculum in the educational setting, according to Pinar, is intended to be used to teach us to think intellectually, sensitively, and with courage to prepare us to be individuals committed to other individuals.
Curriculum committees are a district staple. They are implemented as District-wide, building-specific, subject, and behavior for evaluation and revision of current curriculum and accompany resources. Feedback is solicited from Parent-groups, maintaining responsiveness to community priorities. Textbooks are adopted as tools to support concept application and generalization. However, they are not considered thee source of knowledge. Instructors are empowered to create and differentiate multi-faceted lessons. Cross-curricular collaboration aids this objective as well as promotes critical-thinking and creativity for students. Joint planning periods as well as on going and embedded profession development are also essential elements. Curriculum development and execution cannot be separated from professional training. They are interlocked facets of
Sitwe, M. B. (2010, October 29). Mkandawire Benson Sitwe (2010). How theories of learning influence curriculum specialists during the development Stages of the curriculum | sitwe. sitwe. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://sitwe.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/mkandawire-benson-sitwe-2010-how-theories-of-learning-influence-curriculum-specialists-during-the-development-stages-of-the-curriculum/
Definitions for curriculum are many and varied. Broad sweeping statements claim that curriculum is what is taught in various subjects and the amount of time given to each. While a more specific view is that curriculum are performance objectives for students that focus on specific skills or knowledge (Marsh, 2010). Marsh (2010, p. 93) defines curriculum as “an interrelated set of plans and experiences” that are completed at school. The curriculum used in education can have various interpretations, it may refer to the curriculum as a plan that encompasses all the learning that is planned and directed by the school. Cu...
When reviewing the literature regarding the past, present and future of educational curriculum, several main points seem apparent, namely that curriculum is cyclical, that a dilemma or paradox exists, and that curriculum must be looked at with a sensitive view.
Powell, Katherine C, Kalina, Cody J “Cognitive and social constructivism: Developing tools for an effective classroom” Education, Winter2009, Vol. 130 Issue 2, p241-250, 10p
Curriculum refers to planned approaches to teaching and learning, an area of study or topics, which fit together according to predetermined criteria that are guided by theoretical and philosophical beliefs about the nature of learners and about the kinds of knowledge that should be taught (Lim and Genishi, 2010; Marsh, 2009). Curriculum therefore represents a set of goals that represent the aims of education for children; in essence it represents a value statement of what a society aspires for its children (Spodek and Saracho, 2003). Curriculum assumes many labels and perspectives in different countries, such as ‘core subjects’, ‘foundation subjects’ or ‘key learning areas’, depending on the aim or purpose of education in each country.
Curriculum is important being it’s the underlying factor that plays a role in determining ones growth, achievement and success. The majority of curriculum con...
...S. and Stepelman, J. (2010). Teaching Secondary Mathematics: Techniques and Enrichment Units. 8th Ed. Merrill Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ.
A curriculum is a compilation of study materials that are used at all grade levels, classroom and homework assignments and a set of teacher guides. It could also include a list of prescribed methodology and guidelines of teaching and some material for the parents etc. It is generally determined by an external governing body. However, there are some cases where it may be developed by the schools and teachers themselves.
When all stakeholders share similar core values and agree on the aims of education, reform efforts stand a better chance for success. Knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and citizenship are core values found at the heart of my beliefs for education. I also believe it is the aim of education to prepare students as contributing members of society. In schools where core values and education aims are revisited due to reform implementation, strategies are identified along with a plan for implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The federal government, state, districts, school leadership, teachers, students and parents all have significant responsibilities to make reform efforts a success.
In this essay, I will talk about the components of a lesson plan, the benefits of planning with clear and appropriate goals, selecting age-appropriate goals and objectives that align with state academic content standards, and selecting goals and objectives that are differentiated for varying abilities and learning styles and for multiple intelligences.
Contrary to popular belief, curriculum integration entails more than simply linking lessons together along a common theme. It is more than just "rearranging existing lesson plans", it is an attempt to organize "curriculum around significant problems and issues…without regard for subject-area boundaries" (Beane, 1997). The goal of curriculum integration is to have students gain a deeper level of understanding across subject areas through interrelated thematic study. Themes are drawn from life "as it is being lived and experienced" with knowledge based around problem solving rather than rote skill acquisition (Beane, 1997).
Designing curriculum, instruction, and assessments are steps teachers use to help them make sense of the concepts they teach and helps drive instruction. These steps can take on many different forms and drive a classroom in a plethora of ways. These steps, when developed properly, can help a teacher utilize each moment in the classroom and help students gain more insight to the standards they need to become proficient.