Curriculum Theory and Design Section - Spring 2013

Chapter Reflections
1. As I have stated in my RE for this chapter, I truly consider myself a self-directed learner. The
topic I would choose is the broad topic of "Technology". I would start by having every student to
think of a problem that they believe could be solved in the world we live in today. I would then
follow up with asking them the question of how could you use today's technology to solve that
problem. Giving the students the ability to choose their own problems to solve would allow them
to explore and follow their own sense construct for learning. They would have to research and
find answers that would lead to conclusions that they may not have thought of if the instructor
choose the topic for them. I have heard some educators refer to this as passion based learning.
Technology would allow the students to avoid the depersonalization and I believe they will learn
more because they have been given a vested interest in their learning process.
2. I think the circumstances that would most likely give rise to a curriculum along the lines of
social reconstructionist, is similar to what happen during the civil rights movement of the late
50's and early 60's. The circumstances than forced Good over Evil in a very non-violent way,
demonstrating that people could move towards what was right in spite of the evil forces in
opposition. We now have now live in a society driven by capitalism where 50 of the wealthiest
people in this country have more money than 400 million. So, the circumstances will have to
focus on the poor and how we as a nation serve them. It's more than just provide a "good"
education. I say this because it's difficult to teach a child when he/she is hungry or cold from
having to have slept on the streets the night before. I know I sound like a socialist but that is
what kind of circumstances would need to see to become more a social reconstructionist country.
Only if everyone believed what Mahatma Gandhi once said, Be the change that you wish to see
in the world.
3. The Systemic Curriculum is an example of the new National Common Core Standards. The
Common Core Standards that the state of Georgia are transitioning to. I believe that every
curriculum should deal with the questions of values, ethics, and morality at a very basic level.
Teachers can best add this by making an effort to connect with the students, parents and
community stakeholders. The new common core standards again, are a example of the systemic
curriculum and it does have some room to integrate things like values, ethics, and morality into
the daily instruction but we are not in the business of making broad value and ethics calls, when
it comes to teaching students in public education. However there are lots of opportunities to
interject things like "not cheating on a test" or helping students understand a sense of fairness
when interacting with their peers. But at the end of the day subject matter and student
achievement is the goal.
4. We live in a very different world and it seems sometime that education has not kept up with
this fast pace. While Science and English have been used successfully in the past to make better
thinking students, I believe technology will be the thing that makes them better thinkers in the
future. The whole purpose for our existence as educators is to help student to become college and
career and to ultimately make a positive contribution to the world. Well, everything in their

future screams technology, a very large portion of jobs in America has some requirement to
poses technology skills. Students will have to learn how to learn and technology will play a
crucial part of their potential success or failure. Science and English will always be a part of a
student's education; they just may learn on the mobile device instead of reading it out of a book
or seating in a chair listening to a teacher stand and deliver the material.
5. If given the task of using the needs assessment model, I would definitely give weighed
preferences to special groups. We live in a multi culture society and most studies suggest by the
year 2020 the dominant group will be the minority. In reviewing the four steps for developing a
needs assessment, the first step is to formulate a set of tentative goal statements. The weighed
preference would allow all stakeholders to provide some say in the process based on their own
culture and values which may be different than the dominant group. This needs to happen at the
very beginning of the process. The other three steps in the process could have deeper relevance
for the learner. In addition this would help to mitigate the potential vague goals which in turn
could become technical or philosophical problems that arise as the result of unclear goals.
6. The task I have in mind is from a lesson plan I used when I was a middle school technology
teacher. The curriculum for middle school technology was based on several learning modules
that students rotated through during the six weeks. Each module had a instruction guide with
step-by-step instructions needed to complete all the assignments. Each year when I got new sixth
graders, I would have them explain the steps for making a peanut butter jelly sandwich.
Primarily because the technology program was new for them and they would need to better
understand how to follow step-by-step instructions. Using the above mentioned example I would
break these task down into the following units of instruction. They are presented in the order 1 4, with one being the first. These hands on activities are defined by the text as concrete to
abstract sequencing.
Units:
1. Safety (Using kitchen utensil)
2. Measuring Ingredients
3. Creating detailed procedures and Diagrams
4. Building and construction