The Nature and Scope of Curriculum Development

Reflection # 6

In our discussion about the nature and scope of curriculum development it was mentioned that some authors define curriculum as the total effort of the school to bring about desired outcomes in school and out-of-school situations. I would like to highlight the word “effort” or the determination of the school in making the curriculum.  It is the school who sets the curriculum but it is the student who is the reason of this effort. The curriculum should address what the learners should learn and what are their needs in order to live a meaningful life.

I was also struck by the quotation that was mentioned by Dr. Alonsabe “Failure to plan is planning to fail” which is extremely true. As a teacher, we should plan what to teach before coming to class and plan what to do before facing your students. According to Stephen Covey in his 7 habits of highly effective people “Begin with the end in mind” which means that before you start doing something you should know what the output is. This is his explanation of the second habit “Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination.” For me, as aspiring teacher “since I am not yet in the field of teaching” this is really my goal, before coming to class or even before the school year begins I should have a clear vision of what I wanted my students to learn after the school year. This is very idealistic as what others say but it would be better to aim for what is ideal than become a mediocre teacher.

TYPES OF CURRICULUM

 Reflection # 5

During our discussion about the types of curriculum, there are two events I remembered. One is my class in Curriculum Development in Prof-Ed and second is our review for the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET).  Whenever this is being discussed I am so much interested to listen and discuss about the three types, which are; taught curriculum, learned curriculum and hidden curriculum. Our teacher in Prof-Ed said that taught curriculum is very crucial because the success of the implementation of the curriculum depends on how the teacher teaches the subject matter. Whatever the recommended or the written curriculum is, it is the teacher who has the task to deliver or implement it. Therefore, it is important that the teacher should know what he is going to teach and how should he teach it. The other type of curriculum that I’m interested about is the learned curriculum.  This is what the students actually learn and what is being measured. The learning of the students is the basis in identifying if the curriculum being implemented is effective or if the goals of the teacher are being achieved. Students are the center of education; therefore, their learning is our main concern. The last type of curriculum which I like most is the hidden curriculum. This is the unintended curriculum. The teacher prepares objectives to be achieved by the end of the lesson, but there are unexpected learning of the students which we did not expect to occur during or after the discussion of the subject matter. This is like a mystery that happens in the classroom. In the class while we are teaching, we are not sure of how the students absorb the lesson and what its impact to them. Therefore, there are really unexpected learning that occur in the classroom every now and then. As educators we should be observant and sensitive of these learning. This might help us in knowing more our students and would help us to think of effective teaching strategies.

           

ADMINISTRATION OF BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM

Reflection 4

Last meeting we discussed about the Administration of Basic Education Curriculum.  We talked about the history of the Philippine Educational System, Policies and legislation, the trifocal education system and many others that are related to Basic Education.

As we observed our Educational System in the country passes through manifold changes before it became what is it right now. The name of the department was changed several times before it became DepEd, CHED and TESDA. The curriculum also passed through various changes.

Since our subject is about curriculum, it is just right that we start to know and tackle about the basic education which is the most important, should I say. From the word itself “basic” it is the beginning of all complex things. We cannot learn difficult or complicated lessons without knowing the basic. We cannot evaluate and improve also the secondary or tertiary education without discerning on the basic education. Since it is basic education, it should be the most memorable and meaningful to the child’s life. It will affect on how he/she views education. Is it just for passing and earning a degree or is it because it makes life more meaningful?

To sum it up all, giving the best education to these children is very important because the future of any community be it a family or a nation belongs to them. Forming this young then is very important in the kind of future that the community will have. The kind of community you/I have is a reflection on how we educate our young people. Therefore, as educators give the best of what we can give starting from the basic learning so that in the future it will bear good fruits by seeing our community/our nation progressing.

CURRICULUM

Reflection No. 3

            Curriculum is very important when talking about quality education. As we have discussed, the new definition of curriculum is the total experience of a child, not just merely the list of subjects that students should enrol and comply. Curriculum also passes through a process which starts with planning, followed by implementing and last is evaluating, but it doesn’t end there because it goes on and on as long as there is a need to change or improve.

            This topic curriculum reminded me of my high school and college life because this was mentioned many times in our school. When I was in high school I belonged to a science curriculum. All I can remember, we had two math and science subjects in every year level and they’ve said that we’re ahead from the other sections. In college, they said that we belonged to a new curriculum therefore we encountered new subjects. My knowledge therefore about curriculum is its old definition, which is just the list of subjects. But it was changed when I enrolled in Professional Education and masters because it is broader than my prior knowledge about it.

            One experience also of the broader essence of curriculum is our school, where I am working right now. Our curriculum is different from the rest because this is a theological seminary, but the curriculum is approved by CHED. Our curriculum focuses in the total formation of the learners (seminarians) – academic, human, spiritual and pastoral because they are the future leaders of the church and community. It is also designed to make it responsive to emerging changes in the needs of the learner and the society. I observed how they were taught and formed. They need to balance everything before they will graduate. If they fail to pass in one aspect they will be evaluated by their teachers, formators, classmates and even themselves. Every semester they are also given the chance to reflect on their evaluation and do something about it to improve, may it be positive or negative.

            After knowing all about the importance of curriculum, I will be more conscious about it – how it is organize and how it is implemented in schools. Does it pass through the process of evaluation or it just continues to be implemented without reflecting on its effectiveness in the holistic development of the learners. Does it also respond to the need of time or it doesn’t change at all. I would like to reaffirm also that indeed, curriculum is the lifeblood of the school because

EFA

Reflection No. 2            Education for All (EFA) 2015

           

            “Education for All” is an ideal objective of every country for its citizens. It is something that we aim to achieve as educators, that, we should not just limit our focus to the students who are in school but also those “who should be in school”. How could we encourage or bring them to school? As teachers, conceded with a mission “to educate”, do we limit our mission in school or, more so, to those who are not in school?

            During our sharing of the definitions, ideas and knowledge about EFA we heard a lot of its advantages. EFA is an international effort that in the year 2015 no one should be left behind. Every citizen should be provided with his/her right to be educated regardless of his/her race, culture and religion. If this will be achieved by all countries in the world or even just in Asia it would lead us to progress.

            It is 2011 now, could we still get the target year which is 2015? Or even get close to it? We all know that the intention of the International Community is for the betterment of all its members. But sometimes, not all of their projects are appropriate to all countries. Just like here in the Philippines, the implementation of K plus 12 was somewhat inappropriate. We know that it is necessary but we are unprepared for this. It will just give a traumatic experience to the children because their classrooms are not conducive for learning and we lack teachers who can teach them well.

            In conclusion, I am still hopeful to the Educational System in our country. I believe that all these efforts are leading us to a better and stable system. And, I want to be part of this endeavor that’s why I keep on learning to continually improve and update myself to give a greater service to our country.