Designing Curricula
Download as DOCX, PDF1 like170 views
Designing a unified curriculum should follow a backward process starting with defining desired learning outcomes. The first stage focuses on what students should know and be able to do, framed within 21st century skills. The second stage involves planning assessments to evaluate if goals are achieved. The third stage is determining instructional methods to help students understand content. An effective curriculum caters to student diversity while grounded in learning theory, addressing content, instruction, assessment, and their relationships. Designers must thoughtfully incorporate relevant elements like skills and align them through a mapping process to create a cohesive unit.
Designing Curricula
- 1. Designing Unit Curricula Designing a unified curriculum should occur as a backward like process whereteachers to start by stating how they will achieve their goals. The first stage of this backward process needs curriculum designers to put the desired results in mind. This frame of the things teachers want their students to know forms the backbone of the first stage. In addition, teachers have to frame their contents in the context of the 21st century. A curriculum designed for young people learning in this era needs to reflect their changing nature. Mainly, this stage seeks to empower children with knowledge that can help them in and out of the class. The second stage sees designers and teachers completetheir stage one goals by making them think of assessment evidence. Evidence calls for activities such as quizzing and testing the students. The third stage needs designers to think of ways they can make students gain a better understanding of classroom content. Designers have to make curriculathrough a thoughtful process to cater for the diversity of the students while reflecting the sound learning theory. Curriculum deals with several issues including course content, instructional activities, sequences, and paces. The instructions refer to the tacticsthe teacher will use in order in pushing the curriculum. On the other hand, assessment helps the teacher analyze the absorption level of the students. The assessment does not necessarily mean testing or quizzing students. Many people use these terms inappropriately and some do not know their meanings. These three terms remain inseparable unlike other schooling when it comes to studying their effect. Researchers in their studies have attempted to pinpoint specific effects accrued to the curriculum. Designers need to merge
- 2. constant revision of curricula, instruction, and assessment to help students learn about the proper standards. Designing a curriculum involves coming up with a creatively prepared composition with a series of experiences. Compositions normally have elements and therefore designers should incorporate the relevant elements in their curricula. Master composers need to understand the relevant elements that curricula need and they assemble them in a process called alignment. Relevant elements include skills, actions, and abilities. A curriculum unit map will help in designing a curriculum that incorporates all the significant elements. This becomes helpful when one wants to read the workdone by others and share his own.