Understand The Curriculum Experience: Understanding The Curriculum Experience

Understanding the curriculum experience:

Curriculum being more than just a document:

Rather than curriculum being just a formal document which is written by the government for teachers to implement in their classroom, Blaise and Nuttall (2011), give a different insight to what curriculum is. They break curriculum down into five different concepts; the intended curriculum, the enacted curriculum, the hidden curriculum, the null curriculum and the lived curriculum. (Blaise & Nuttall, 2011, pp. 82-95). These five concepts create a method of teaching where the students are learning through experiences. In order for this to happen, this method of teaching needs to be adopted by the teachers and the school. As stated in Marsh and Wills (2007),

15). Teachers need to be prepared for the unexpected. They need to allow their day to be somewhat unplanned in order for students to learn from their own experiences. Schools world (2016) states that Albert Bradbeer primary school is very flexible when teaching. The students were allowed to contribute to the planning of their activities in the classroom, they then are given the opportunity to explore and experience independently. Kathryn Pritchard (foundation stage coordinator) stated that by doing so, the activities would change from what she expected would happen, and develop into something she didn’t even think the students were capable of - such as creating and running their own teddy veterinary clinic in the classroom. This resulted in the

Overtime, curriculum has adapted through our society to become more accepting and aware of different needs, values, cultures and beliefs. Stakeholders have also played a part in adapting the official curriculum, they have expressed their needs for students graduating. To investigate this, an interview was taken place with Peter Campbell who completed year 12 and went on to have many career experiences which qualified him to have the job he has today – a Transport Operations manager.

Nowadays, teachers are often flexible when planning their activities, this is because each student is different. Students have different needs; socially, emotionally and physically. My Interviewee attended school during the mid – late 1900s. Linking to the McCreadie (2006) reading, both boys and girls received education in the basic subjects – mathematics, literacy and science, however a lot of their schooling day was taken up with singing, mannerisms and making sure each student was groomed appropriately. As stated by Malaguzzi (1993), each student has a different context, as do educators. Each student should be seen as an individual with different skills and talents, educators should be attentive and helpful towards students, instead of judgemental. (pp. 52-54). The interviewee stated that during his schooling experience he felt that each student was seen as just a number, all