CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Design the best learning experiences by selecting the right content required by your learners in order to meet their goals.

Any educator understands that creating an effective curriculum is a critical component of delivering a positive learning experience. A seasoned high school teacher or university professor knows that the literature and theory surrounding the idea of education have developed over time. Today, the term widely refers to the entire course curriculum, including learning goals, instructional methods, content, and tests.

Curriculum creation is the system by which a teacher or organization develops or adopts a course plan. Because this is such a broad subject, it can be challenging to sift through the noise to find the most up-to-date best practices. There are also several schools of thought on the correct way to handle the curriculum creation process.

With an overwhelming amount of advice available, how do you know whom to listen to when creating a program suitable for your company? There will never be a one-size-fits-all curriculum that works in every setting, even for the same subject.

At Alchemist Learning, we assist institutions and companies in providing the best possible learning environment for their learners.

What is Curriculum Development?

Curriculum creation is the multi-step method of designing and developing a school or university course. Although the exact approach varies by organization, the overall structure involves research, construction, implementation, and evaluation.

Curricula in K-12 schools are often implemented at the local or state level to achieve consistent learning results across various schools. At the college level, teachers may have more freedom to create their curricula. In either case, the person or community is responsible for designing a course (as well as selecting strong corresponding course materials) that effectively achieve instructional objectives and meet student needs.

Rather than a linear or static approach, the curriculum creation process should ideally be one of continuous improvement. Plans for instruction should be modified, revised, and updated regularly as new and different needs arise. These changes may be due to subject-area discoveries, advances in instructional best practices, or changes in course delivery.

Why is Curriculum Development Beneficial for Educators?

The need for curriculum development is self-evident in several respects. Imagine trying to teach a lecture without a plan! A well-thought-out curriculum provides educators with a solid foundation on which to create during day-to-day teaching.

Curriculum creation is concerned with the overall approach needed to teach a course effectively. By considering course goals, content sequencing, and delivery strategies in advance, instructors may concentrate on more minor specifics such as preparing a particular lecture or writing successful evaluations.

Are There Different Curriculum Development Processes or Models?

There are two types of curriculum models – product models and process models. The model you choose will determine the steps you take to build the course.

  • Product Model – This model, also known as the goals model, focuses on tests, effects, and performance. It decides what learning has taken place. You must follow the product model if you want to create a program that prioritizes standardized test scores. This model is considered more structured and challenging to adjust to each student’s needs, but it includes objective learning evaluations.
  • Process Model – This model is concerned with how learning evolves. There is a focus on how students learn and what thoughts they have in the process. This approach is more open-ended and recognizes students’ overall growth and progress rather than their exam results.

It is also possible to create a curriculum that emphasizes both the product and the method. After deciding on the type of curriculum you want to design, it’s time to pick an approach. There are three generally known curriculum design methodologies:

  1. Student-Centric
    The student-centered design focuses on the unique needs and aspirations of each learner. Using this method, you can examine your students’ prior experience and learning styles. The needs of your learners will drive your curriculum planning process.
  2. Subject-Centric
    This model focuses on the unique skills and expertise associated with a topic. The majority of standardized curricula follow the subject-centered approach. This model aims to construct an equitable learning environment through schools and grades, unfortunately this is not always accomplished. Since this approach does not focus on the student, it can lack engagement and possibly lowers students’ results.
  3. Problem-Centric
    This approach aims to provide students with applicable real-world skills. Students learn how to look at a problem and solve it. Some advantages of this approach include a greater emphasis on critical thinking, a focus on teamwork, and more classroom creativity. Students continue to learn essential skills and expertise, but with more meaning.

Incorporating elements from all these models will create a detailed curriculum that strikes the right balance for your course, learners, and subject area.

Alchemist Learning’s Curriculum Development Process

With so many different methods and measures to choose from, you’re probably curious what curriculum planning looks like in reality.

We use an iterative approach to create course materials and curriculum at Alchemist Learning. Our methodology is consistent with best practices pedagogy and andragogy and specialize in both improvement design and learner-centered curricula. Rather than a sequential list of steps, we use a six-step cycle:

Step 1: Analyze
Like any good curriculum development process, our design approach starts with a detailed exploration of the needs of both instructors and students. At this point, we work to understand the instructor’s current instructional practices to develop targeted content.

Step 2: Conduct Research
Following that, we delve deep to find tools covering the related educational subjects and meet the course objectives. Based on what we discover, we can also identify areas for overall program development based on student needs.

Step 3: Design
Our custom design process ensures that each course has a dynamic and engaging flow. We’ll create a layout, design, and flow of content corresponding to the instructor’s current teaching method.

Step 4: Curation
We use content from a range of outlets, such as:

  • Instructor-created open-source content that has been peer-reviewed
  • Custom Alchemist Learning-created content
  • Third-party licensed content

Our curation process ensures that educators can use the best content available without having to perform time-consuming searches.

Step 5: Build
We build the course using the data and content gathered in the previous steps. Since the process is collaborative, the instructor gains knowledge of the whole process and the opportunity to revisit and update the course.

Step 6: Launch
We start the course with students having immediate access and quick access to tech support. Also, keep in mind that this is an iterative process, so launch day isn’t the end of the path. We encourage each educator to gather metrics to make continuous changes to the course.

We use these steps to create learning materials that are accessible, dynamic, and engaging for both students and educators. Process-driven curriculum creation techniques, when implemented correctly, encourage long-term success. With the proper structure at your disposal, you’ll be able to make adjustments as conditions change for your students, your subject, and society.

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