Ed 5860 Curriculum in Brief Sept 29, 2010

What is a curriculum? A program put together A program put together Guideline or an outline grade-specific Guideline or an outline grade-specific Provincial guidelines for what teachers are to teach [standards] Provincial guidelines for what teachers are to teach [standards] What is it’s purpose? To see how your students progress related to the standards To see how your students progress related to the standards Give the teacher an idea of what expectations there are for each grade level Give the teacher an idea of what expectations there are for each grade level To ensure that all students are taught to the same level To ensure that all students are taught to the same level

NB science Curriculum – general layout

Designing Elementary Science Projects

Personally Meaningful Culturally relevant – (e.g. native, age-relevant, everyday activities) Culturally relevant – (e.g. native, age-relevant, everyday activities) Giving choices of project topics Giving choices of project topics Interesting to both boys & girls Interesting to both boys & girls Hands-on/experiential Hands-on/experiential Use your experiences and children around for ideas Use your experiences and children around for ideas Make it interesting for yourself, thus your enthusiasm will encourage the students Make it interesting for yourself, thus your enthusiasm will encourage the students Make it something the students are interested in! Make it something the students are interested in!

Fulfills Educational Purpose Curriculum Outcomes Curriculum Outcomes Hidden Curriculum Hidden Curriculum Cross-Curricular Learning / Holistic Learning Cross-Curricular Learning / Holistic Learning

7 Elements of Project Design 1.A need to Know 2.A Driving Question 3.Student Voice and Choice 4.21 st Century Skills 5.Inquiry and Investigation 6.Feedback and Revision 7.A publically Presented Product

A need to Know Making the project relevant Making the project relevant Encourages students to take ownership Encourages students to take ownership Need to know what is going on in the world around them or the environment near and far Need to know what is going on in the world around them or the environment near and far Give the project a purpose greater then an assignment laid out by the teacher Give the project a purpose greater then an assignment laid out by the teacher

A Driving Question Gives the students motivation, focus, purpose, and specific challenges Gives the students motivation, focus, purpose, and specific challenges Gets the students attention Gets the students attention Sets the stage…something to go by Sets the stage…something to go by Gets students involved Gets students involved Gives students the urge to learn more Gives students the urge to learn more

Student Voice and Choice Freedom to voice their opinions/comments Freedom to voice their opinions/comments Providing opportunities for student to learn more through choice Providing opportunities for student to learn more through choice To meet their needs To meet their needs Allows students the opportunity to contribute to project goals etc. Allows students the opportunity to contribute to project goals etc. Students decide what they want to learn out of the project Students decide what they want to learn out of the project

21 st Century Skills Technological Technological Collaboration Collaboration Communication Communication Curriculum goals Curriculum goals Interactive skills Interactive skills Problem solving Problem solving Teamwork Teamwork Critical thinking Critical thinking

Inquiry and Investigation

Feedback and Revision Peer assessment Peer assessment Formative assessment - assessment for learning Formative assessment - assessment for learning Summative assessment – assessment of learning Summative assessment – assessment of learning Group discussions Group discussions Revisions allows student opportunities to self-assess Revisions allows student opportunities to self-assess

A publically Presented Product Examples – parent-teacher; present to community; present to classmates; science fair; video; website;… Examples – parent-teacher; present to community; present to classmates; science fair; video; website;… Gives value and exercises value Gives value and exercises value Gives confidence in science and pride in their work Gives confidence in science and pride in their work Encourages (scares) students into doing good work Encourages (scares) students into doing good work