Discussion 3: Models of Curriculum Development

As school districts across the nation address societal demands and legislative mandates to prepare a workforce for the 2lst century, school leaders find themselves working to change curriculum within their schools. To achieve this challenging, sometimes controversial task of curriculum alignment and revision, school leaders must work with diverse constituencies to achieve the best balance of needs, desires, appropriate assessment, and instruction.Achieving effective curriculum revision, therefore, requires a thorough understanding of the processes and principles of the changing paradigms affecting curriculum development.

Curriculum development is viewed as occurring on a variety of levels beginning with the classroom and moving through a spectrum to include national and international sectors. Each level in ascending order exercises authority over preceding levels. Sectors are distinguished from levels because sectors have no or limited power over the five levels. Forces outside of schools also influence curriculum decision making.

Discussion:

Identify & describe a curriculum revision that has taken place in your organization/school/district in the last 5 years. Based on your readings regarding the curriculum change process, address the following questions in your discussion.

• Reference against the 5 levels mentioned in the Gordon, et al pp.50-60.
• 1. What determined the “success” of the curriculum revision processes?
• 2. Were there specific factors that had a significant impact on whether or not the revision project was successful?
• 3. What views did teachers have on the process of curriculum revision processes?
• 4. How did teacher attitudes and/or backgrounds have an impact on the success or failure of curriculum revision procedures?
• 5. How did the revision procedures have an influence on its success or failure?
• 6. What effect, if any, did pre-service training have on the revision process?
• 7. What is your opinion about the effectiveness of the process? What would you have done differently ( if anything) to influence the outcome?

  My wife is a elementary school teacher in Harrison County School District in gulfport, MS