Philosophical Foundations of Education and Curriculum Design Planning
Education systems worldwide approach curriculum design differently, reflecting diverse philosophies and priorities. Learner-centered designs emphasize personalized learning experiences, such as Finland'
References for Module 3:
C. (2013, March 11). The Power of Student Voice to Enhance Teacher Practice. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmXM1jT8j54
Canadian Education Association. (2014, January 30). A Teacher's P.O.V. on Starting Inquiry-Based Learning in the Classroom [Video File}. Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/85470752
Castellon, A. (2017, May 28). A call to personal research: Indigenizing your curriculum. Canadian Journal for Teacher Research. Retrieved from https://www.teacherresearch.ca/detail/post/a-call-to-personal-research-indigenizing-your-curriculum
Hayes, D. (2003). Making learning an effect of schooling: aligning curriculum, assessment and pedagogy. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 24(2), 225-245.
McMIllan, J.H. (2014). The Role of assessment in teaching. In Classroom Assessment: Principles and Practice for Effective Standards-Based Instruction (pp. 1-20). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
McMillan, J.H. (2014). High-quality classroom assessment. In Classroom Assessment: Principles and Practice for Effective Standards-Based Instruction (pp. 57-64, 74-88). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Robinson, K. (2013, May 10). How to escape education's death valley. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley
Shepard, L. (2000, October). The role of assessment in a learning culture. Educational Researcher 29(7), 4-14.
Cons:
-Stressful for students and teachers
-Unfairly tests students
-Causes teachers to "teach to the test"
-Not all students can process material at the same rate, or can test fairly the same way
Benefits:
-Develops communication skills
-More inclusive (ex. students with Dyslexia)
-Encourages critical thinking
Benefits:
-Fosters self-monitoring and self-regulated learning
-assists learning by motivation and understanding through engagement in the assessment process
Maximizing outputs
with a minimum of inputs
Reliability
Fairness
Assessment
- Purpose
- Measurement
- Interpretation
- Use
Dynamic & On-going Assessment
- prior knowledge or learning?
Alternative Assessments (required the active construction of meaning)
- performance assessment
- portfolios
- exhibitions
- demonstrations
- journals
Rubrics
- provide clear targets and guidance
- transparency of assessment
- explicit criteria
Oral Assessments
Teacher Reflections
High quality assessments are practical
and efficient
Colleague Collaboration
- can assist in reducing bias
Student Self-
Assessment
Instruction
"Walk to Academics"
(Group similarly
levelled learners
together)
Planning
Pre-Assessment
Choosing topics students
are interested in
- a student's prior knowledge
affects their learning and
interpretation of new material
Backwards Design
- forces a consideration of how
performances (outcomes) will be achieved, measured and taught
- places assessment up front and requires it to be planned prior to beginning learning activities
-Allows to identify Big Ideas and desired results
-Determines appropriate evidence to collect
-Creates concentrated and specific learning events
Standardized-Testing
Form over content
- emphasis on deliverables
and efficiency
Curricularists
James Popham
Ralph Tyler
Franklin Bobbitt
References for Module 2:
Eisner, E., & Vallance, E. (1974). Five conceptions of curriculum: Their roots and implications for curriculum planning. In E. W. Eisner & E. Vallance (eds.), Conflicting Conceptions of Curriculum (pp. 1-18). Berkeley, CA: McCutchan.
Ornstein, A.C. (1990-1991). Philosophy as a basis for curriculum decisions. High School Journal, 74(2), pp. 102-109.
Ornstein, A.C., & Hunkins, F.P. (2013). Curriculum Design. In Curriculum: Foundations, Principles, and Issues (pp. 149-173). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Samuelsson, I.P., Sheridan, S., & Williams, P. (2006). Five preschool curricula - comparative perspective. International Journal of Early Childhood 11(1), pp. 11-30.
Sowell, E. (2005). Sections from Chapter 3, 4, 5. In Curriculum: An Integrative Introduction (3rd ed.). (pp. 52-61, 81-85, 103-106). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Reconstructionist
Design
Life-situations
Design
Humanistic Design
Radical Design
Experience-Centered
Design
Child-Centered Design
Continuity
- vertical repetition of
components
Integration
- links all types of knowledge &
experiences within the plan
Balance
- curriculum advances personal,
social & intellectual goals
Swedish National Curriculum for Preschool
(Lfpo) - Sweden
Reggio Emilia (R/E)
- Italy
High/Scope (H/S)
- USA
Experiential Education (EXE)
- Belgium
Reconstructionism
- to improve & reconstruct
society
- teacher is agent of
change & reform
Progressivism
- based on student
interest
- teacher is a guide for
inquiry & problem
solving
Pragmatism
Idealism
Essentialism
- teacher is the
authority
- educate the competent
person
Perrenialism
- cultivate intellect
- educaete the
rational person
Realism
Components of Design
- beliefs about people, what and how they should learn and how that knowledge should be used
Conceptual
Frameworks
Vertical Organization
Horizontal Organization
Curricula Designs
Learner Centered Designs
Finland Schools
- broad approach; no standardized testing
- no drop out rate
- individualization of teaching & learning
- teachers given support and status within the education system
Indigenizing Curriculum
- Experiential Learning, incorporating environment and the environment's story
- restorative principles
- practical application with classroom circles
- knowledge sharing
Inquiry Based learning
-Pose questions
-Find resources
-Interpret information
-Interpret findings
No Child Left Behind (United States)
- based on conformity
- focused on STEM disciplines
- significant drop out rate in some areas of the US
- role of the teacher is diminished or devalued
-heavy direct instruction by teacher
Subject Centered Designs
Subject Design
Discipline Design
Broad Fields Design
Process Design
Correlation Design
Design Dimensions and Considerations
Sources of Curriculum Design
The Learner
Knowledge
Moral Doctrine
Society
Science
Philosophical Foundations
(Ornstein, 1990/1991)
Conceptions of Curriculum
(Eisner & Vallance, 1974)
Technological
- make learning
systematic &
efficient
Cognitive
Processes
- develop intellectual
processes through
subject matter