EDU 6500 Curriculum Construction

Briefly tell us about your Research Project.  Why did you choose this topic?  Are there any research resources which you would recommend to the class?

What is your school’s curriculum development process?  Talk to your district Curriculum Development Coordinator or a fellow teacher who has served on curriculum committees.

From Class Discussion 

Definition – Everything that you teach that is not written down somewhere.  Everything that happens to the student within the school.  Actions speak louder than words.

Examples

1.      Respect

2.      Teachers handing back papers.

3.      Bathroom, hallways – socialization

4.      Life experiences of students outside of school

5.      Empathy

6.      Organization

7.      Asking questions

8.      Bullying

9.      Different cultures

10.   Dress codes

11.   Socio-economic class

12.  Expectations

Go to Dumbing Us Down: the Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling.  Scroll down to the section of the speech which lists the 7 lessons that are taught in all public schools by all teachers in America, whether they know it or not.  What is your reaction to these 7 items?

After a small group discussion, our class came up with the following definition of curriculum:

Definition of Curriculum

1.  what you teach, why, when, how
2.  theme teaching
3.  content, standards, materials, experience
4.  implementation of content using assessment to achieve objectives and goals

Read the following pages in your book:
1.  Curr. Plan – page 7-9, 11
2.  Understand by design  page 340-341
Respond to this post on your expanded version of curriculum as a result of your readings.

Brainstorm of current educational issues which involve curriculum.
 

Choose 4 issues which are a priority in your school.  Tell why.

For our first posting, think about the following questions: 

What does it mean to be an “educated” person as opposed to a “schooled” person?

What type of curriculum would produce an “educated” person?

Discuss this with your partner and respond to this posting.  Read the postings of the other group members when you are done.