Curriculum

     

Redesign   Issue  #8,  Oct.  27,  2014  

 
What is Curriculum Redesign and why do
Effective change must be timely
we need it?
In the fall of 2013, Alberta Education          Anyone  who  has  purchased  the  latest  smart  phone  only  to  find  out  a  ‘new  
requested from school divisions across and  improved’  version  has  already  been  released  knows  how  quickly  things  
Alberta submission of proposals to develop a can  become  obsolete.  
process for curriculum development as well          That’s  w hy  Alberta  
as to develop and submit a scope and Education  is  not  only  
sequence for what children would know and looking  into  the  
be able to do throughout grades k - 12, a knowledge  and  skills  
graphic organizer to represent the essence of tomorrow’s  students  
the curriculum, an articulation of at most 10 will  need,  but  
outcomes at each grade level for each of the whether  there’s  a  
identified disciplines (Arts, Language Arts, more  efficient  
Mathematics, Sciences, Social Studies, and process  to  arrive  at  
Wellness). In addition, resources and future  curriculum  
assessments to support teachers were also redesign.  
part of what were to be considered.          The  existing  
What many people are asking now is why practice  can  take  five  
do all curricula need to be rearticulated? to  10  years  to  
Don't we already have a top-notch education revamp  curriculum  
system? A response to those questions, can in  any  given  subject.  
be traced back to 2009 when the then          “If  it  takes  forever  to  adjust  it.  .  .  “  says  Richelle  Marynowski,  with  a  shrug  
Minister of Education, David Hancock, of  her  shoulders.  “Some  of  our  programs  of  studies  are  from  the  1980s.  It’s  
started a conversation with Albertans about not  even  written  in  a  language  that  is  consistent  with  what  we  know  about  
education. From those conversations, a teaching  and  learning  now.”  
message was heard that, while the system          Marynowski,  W estwind  School  Division’s  representative  on  the  
we have is good, there existed a vision for provincial  Curriculum  Synthesis  Team,  says  curriculum  redesign  has  
what could be. Consider that some curricula, traditionally  seen  a  small  team  of  teachers  seconded  for  a  couple  of  years  to  
or programs of study, have not changed work  on  a  particular  subject.  Consultation  would  be  limited  to  a  handful  o f  
since 1985. What we know about teaching other  teachers  across  the  province,  and  the  reworked  curriculum  would  be  
and learning have evolved and so should our submitted  for  approval  of  the  Education  Minister.  
idea of what school is and can do for          If  approved  the  new  curriculum  was  often  but  not  always  implemented  
students. on  a  test  basis  w ith  a  number  of  schools  giving  it  a  trial  run  to  see  if  any  
In the Curriculum Redesign process that changes  were  necessary.  
Westwind and 16 other school divisions are          While  the  process  doesn’t  sound  particularly  onerous,  she  says  it  can  
participating in, curriculum has been sometimes  take  five  to  10  years  for  curriculum  to  change.    Even  if  the  
envisioned as something that teachers and subject  matter  itself  doesn’t  change  over  that  span,  it  can  still  be  outdated  
students approach together, rather than a before  it’s  ever  implemented.  
listing of bits of knowledge to check off when          “There  could  be  changes  in  the  understanding  of  how  students  learn  
they are done. 'Covering the curriculum' is a better  and  the  kinds  o f  things  we  want  students  to  be  able  to  do  and  know,”  
common phrase that is heard from teachers. says  Marynowski,  an  assistant  professor  with  the  Faculty  of  Education  at  
And in covering that curriculum, students are the  University  of  Lethbridge.  “And  with  more  research  you  might  find  out  
raced through seemingly unconnected bits to that  there’s  a  d ifferent  order  that  things  need  to  be  learned  in.”  
get to the 'end'. Fewer outcomes that are          Everything  is  open  for  negotiation,  including  the  medium  of  d elivery.    
worded to encompass deep thinking and
         “The  potential  is  dramatic.  Is  there  a  way  to  host  curriculum  in  a  digital  
connections are what teachers have asked
form  that  can  evolve  year-­‐after-­‐year;  where  that  can  be  reconsidered  year-­‐
for. For example, in science, a former
after-­‐year?”  
outcome might have read "Students will
         On  the  other  hand,  perhaps  there’s  merit  to  keeping  curriculum  a  static  
understand the parts of the circulatory
document  to  buffet  the  temptation  to  jump  on  every  passing  fad.  
system".
         “Are  teachers  going  to  be  freaked  out  if  the  curriculum  evolves  every  
A more connected outcome might read "I
year?”  w onders  Marynowski.  “Considering  the  resources  that  teachers  use  
can identify and describe how systems in the
body work together to maintain the overall to  help  their  students  understand  these  things,  that’s  a  big  thing.”  
functioning of the body." What is being aimed          The  entire  school  community,  including  parents,  are  being  asked  for  their  
for is deep understanding and investigation of views  on  curriculum  redesign  w ith  an  online  survey  available  at  
ideas rather than a covering of topics. http://inspiredcurriculum.ca.