It is a daunting task for any new administrator to change curriculum. Strategies for Curriculum Change correctly assumes that curriculum needs to change. We have learned this semester that curriculum must be continuously updated to reflect the needs and learning styles of students. This is not to ignore the basics or the classics. Writers such as Hirsch strongly promote cultural literacy as a means of creating a platform for future learning. But we should continue to rethink what education is. Thinking of SabreTooth, It is not always practical/beneficial to teach students as they were in the past. Curriculum should be revised in zero-base format; all aspects should be questioned for relevance. Riding this find line can be challenging; but the challenge becomes less daunting when we attach our curriculum change to a specific shared vision for the school.
This class fully embraces the spirit of change. The use of Blackboard, blogs, and YouTube as learning tools did not compromise our learning in any way. Moreover, it specifically meets the needs of graduate students with full-time jobs. Students were accountable for their own learning, yet given the flexibility to work on their own schedule.
Leaving this class, I will better grasp the role of administrators in leading curriculum change. We must evaluate the needs and wants of all stakeholders. We must create specific planning committees and communication chains. Rationale and time-frame for the change must always be linked to the vision for our school. These processes will not create the perfect, end-all curriculum; they will continually function to create a learning program that best benefits kids.
2 comments:
Curriculum change is perhaps one of the most challenging and essential component, yet, it's seldom initiated by building administrators. Many administrators do not even focus on curriculum and instruction so it's great that this class has given us the tools to assess the strength and weaknesses of any curriculum. In order for administrators to truly become educational leaders, they must have a thorough understanding of how curriculum affects the students' achievement and how to modify it.
It is easy to to forget that change in curriculum should not be tedious or mandated. Like this class, it can be fun and exciting. It can be innovative. Given the unpleasant reality of how static curriculum is in schools today, we can forget that curriculum change can make our jobs more enjoyable by benefitting students in obvious ways. I guess the key to doing that is to think big, think outside the box, and not be afraid to break from the norm of your school's curriculum. I also agree that technology was used in this class in practical and effective ways. It wasn't technology for technology's sake. It bolstered the instruction and learning. That is what technology should be used for.
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