Curriculum Approaches
The four curriculum approaches are behavioural, managerial, systems, and humanistic. Each of them introduces the way of how people think and reflect on different philosophies and designs. A behavioural approach is one of the oldest methods supported by such researchers as Taba and Taylor. It is based on certain technical and scientific principles and used to provide its users with a step-by-step guide for the development of appropriate academic activities. There are special paradigms and models that help students, teachers, and other curriculum specialists to succeed in learning.
Curriculum Innovation
The concept of curriculum innovation
Curriculum innovation is usually used to improve students’ achievements and teachers’ abilities. Innovation should not be defined as some kind of change only. It is a manageable and feasible activity that is based on the demands of educators and learners at the same time. It may also be an object or any other form of application of means that aim at improving the effectiveness of teaching and learning, developing a complex landscape of education, and motivating students.
Examples of curriculum innovation in your classroom
The best examples of current curriculum innovations in the classroom are the use of smartphones during the class (for students) and the use of video presentations and quick quizzes while watching (for teachers).
Reasons for Innovate Curriculums
Reasons why schools innovate school curriculum
There are many reasons why schools innovate curriculums. For example, it helps to improve students’ motivation and their engagement in classroom activities. Another reason for such innovations is the possibility to choose the most effective approach and make students attend classes and identify their skills that have to be developed.
Curriculum Development vs. Curriculum Design
Curriculum design is the way how any curriculum could be conceptualised, and how all components of a teaching process could be arranged. Curriculum development is the actual process that describes how curriculum could be planned and implemented in a classroom. In other words, design is the plan of actions, and development is the actions taken.
Key Stages of Curriculum Development
In curriculum development, there are four key stages of curriculum development. They include the analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation. Each stage plays an important role. Still, the process of implementation seems to be one of the most crucial aspects of work because it includes all issues to be considered when a new curriculum is put into practice. Teachers demonstrate their readiness to help and their knowledge. Students develop their personal attitudes and perceptions of a new idea. The results can hardly be predicted because much depends on the way how students cooperate with a teacher.
This stage could be developed due to the existing updating means and sources. International exchange of knowledge and practice could promote the development of this stage as well.
Issues in Curriculum Development
The possible challenges in curriculum development may be the inability to meet the criteria for selecting content, the necessity to motivate students but the use of not up-to-date sources and material, a poorly organised content, and the inability to gather enough feedbacks from different groups.
The problem of poorly developed feedbacks could be resolved by means of cooperating with the representatives of different academic groups: students, assistants, teachers, and office managers.
Factors that Affect Curriculum Development
Nowadays, different factors may affect curriculum development. They are political changes, computer technology achievements, the economy, cultural preferences, and religious rules. All of them may change the way how teachers develop their curriculums.
For example, there is a technological factor that cannot be ignored. In classrooms, students should be provided not only with computers but also with free Wi-Fi and the possibility to charge their devices each time they need. Technological multimedia may influence academic and educational goals considerably.