Course Description:
This course introduces the major curricular models and analyzes their design and development, implementation, and evaluation. The role of technology and disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches are considered, and teaching through inquiry and for conceptual understanding are explored. Strategies for planning, conducting and evaluating curricula are covered, and the practical problems teachers face in making curricular decisions are discussed. The course will also examine the influence of legislative and socio-political forces and the value systems of central stakeholders on planning and curriculum choices.
Required Textbook and Materials: UoPeople courses use open educational resources (OER) and other materials specifically donated to the University with free permissions for educational use. Therefore, students are not required to purchase any textbooks or sign up for any websites that have a cost associated with them. The main required textbooks for this course are listed below, and can be readily accessed using the provided links. There may be additional required/recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons; these will be provided for you in the course’s General Information and Forums area, and throughout the term via the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.
- This course does not contain a main textbook; resources to all required reading will be provided in the course Learning Guide for each week.
Software Requirements/Installation: No special requirements.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
By the end of this course students will be able to:
- Explore the influence of various contextual factors on student learning, instruction or curriculum.
- Examine a rationale for teaching in a changing society.
- Analyze the importance of differentiated teaching and assessment.
- Evaluate major social, political, and cultural trends in education.
Course Schedule and Topics: This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week.
Week 1: Unit 1 – What is Curriculum?
Week 2: Unit 2 – Curriculum Theory
Week 3: Unit 3 – Curriculum and the Educator
Week 4: Unit 4 – Curriculum Development
Week 5: Unit 5 – Curriculum and Cultural Diversity
Week 6: Unit 6 – Curriculum and Technology
Week 7: Unit 7 – Curriculum and Evaluation
Week 8: Unit 8 – Curriculum and Course Review
Learning Guide: The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students. The Learning Guides for all units open on the first day of class. Please review all Learning Guides to access the readings, review assignments, etc.
Unit 1: What is Curriculum?
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete and submit the Written Assignment
- Complete the Portfolio Activity
Unit 2: Curriculum Theory
- Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete and submit the Written Assignment
Unit 3: Curriculum and the Educator
- Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete and submit the Written Assignment
- Meet with your assigned group and complete the pre-group work tasks outlined in the Group Work document
- Complete the Portfolio Activity
Unit 4: Curriculum Development
- Peer assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete and submit the Written Assignment
- Continue to participate in the Group Activity
Unit 5: Curriculum and Cultural Diversity
- Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Continue to participate in the Group Activity
- Complete and submit the Written Assignment
Unit 6: Curriculum and Technology
- Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Post finalized Group Activity
- Complete the Portfolio Activity
Unit 7: Curriculum and Evaluation
- Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete and submit the Written Assignment
- Complete the Portfolio Activity
Unit 8: Curriculum and Course Review
- Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
- Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
- Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
- Complete the Portfolio Activity
- Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation
Course Requirements:
Discussion Assignments & Response Posts/Ratings
Some units in this course require that you complete a Discussion Assignment. You are required to develop and post a substantive response to the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum. A substantive response is one that fully answers the question that has been posed by the instructor. In addition, you must extend the discussion by responding to at least three (3) of your peers’ postings in the Discussion Forum and by rating their posts. Instructions for proper posting and rating (out of a 10 point scale) are provided inside the Discussion Forum for each week. Discussion Forums are only active for each current and relevant learning week, so it is not possible to contribute to the forum once the learning week has come to an end. Failure to participate in the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum and responding to peers as required may result in failure of the course.
Written Assignments & Assessment Forms
Most units in this course require that you complete a Written Assignment, which may come in many forms (case study, research paper, etc.). You are required to submit your assignments by the indicated deadlines and, in addition, to peer assess three (3) of your classmates’ assignments according to the instructions found in the Assessment Form, which is provided to you during the following week. During this peer assessment period, you are expected to provide details in the feedback section of the Assessment Form, indicating why you awarded the grade that you did to your peer. Please note that each assignment grade is comprised of a combination of your submission (90%) and your peer assessments (10%). Failure to submit Written Assignments and/or Assessment Forms may result in failure of the course.
Group Activities
During this course, you will be required to complete work as part of a small group. Group work is an important component of your coursework, as it allows you to deepen relationships with classmates, and gain a more thorough understanding of the topics presented in this course. Further, group work mimics the business environment in which projects are often conducted in small teams across different departments. You will be randomly assigned to your groups and are expected to work with your teammates throughout the term for all group activities.
Reflective Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities are tools for self-reflection and evaluation within the context of the course. These activities are designed as a means to document and critically reflect upon your learning process. Activities you develop for this course will be kept in your Research and Practice Portfolio and will be important as you progress towards the final courses in your program, particularly the Advanced Practice and Capstone courses. Ideally, you will draw from your coursework and experiences, as well as what you’ve learned in other courses, and your own current teaching practice to showcase your overall growth and examine ways in which you can continue to develop and sharpen your research interests and expand your cadre of instructional methods.
The Research and Practice Portfolio:
Throughout the M.Ed. Program, you will be building a portfolio of instructional strategies and materials, and acquiring knowledge and skills for advanced professional practice. Students begin building their portfolio right from start. It serves as a repository for research findings and sample units and lessons. Students use it to archive ideas and resources related to instructional methods, classroom management, and assessment. The portfolio supports your own self-reflection on changes that demonstrate growth in professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes that is part of the Capstone experience. The component parts of the Research and Practice Portfolio include:
- Reflective Portfolio Activities
- Research
- Teaching and Learning Resources
Course Forum
The Course Forum is the place to raise issues and questions relating to the course. It is regularly monitored by the instructors and is a good place to meet fellow students taking the same course. While it is not required to participate in the Course Forum, it is highly recommended.