The curriculum is the framework in which students gain information through different methodologies, assessments, and instruction. If the curriculum fails to provide the students with the necessary exposure needed, the curriculum has failed. Let's look at some of the basic elements of creating a viable curriculum for any subject.
Instructions
1. Determine the goals of the curriculum:
Goals are those ideas that are broad and not very specific. What goals do you have for your students. For example, All students will be well informed citizens of the United States of America.
Remember, goals cannot be measured, they are banner ideas that inspire.
2. Determine the objectives:
Objectives are going to be more specific and tell how students will accomplish their specific goals in a specific subject. Objectives typically have verbs included which states what the student will be able to do. One of the best resources to assist in developing objectives is the Bloom's Taxonomy which provides children with different levels of thinking and learning. An example of an objective would be: Students will be able to design scientific procedures to determine the durability of a substance.
3. Create Instructional experiences:
Instruction is very important because it is the reinforcement and bridge to the students accomplishing the learning objectives. Instruction must be interesting, learner appropriate, and appealing to all of the different learning styles of students. Instruction should not be solely reading out of a textbook. Instruction should be hands-on and versatile.
4. Provide adequate practice:
Students should be able to implement instructional directives in their independent practice exercises. This part of the lesson should ensure that the student can operate somewhat independent of the instructor.
5. Develop effective assessments:
The curriculum must provide students with effective assessment opportunities that do not only measure rote memory, but a clear understanding and application of the learning objectives. Teacher should use a variety of assessments and not over burden students with just one type of assessment tool. Students should be challenge to think scenarios through and not only give yes or no answers. Proper Assessment will provide indication of whether or not the student has fully embraced the curriculum. In addition, careful study of assessment results will determine if the curriculum is addressing all of the areas that the student needs to experience.
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