Course Description

This graduate course is offered to help students understand the complex nature of curriculum. As the importance of curriculum—the substance of schooling—is once again reaffirmed in the current school reform movement, this course is concerned with conceptualizing the curriculum field and theory, identifying fundamental tasks in curriculum development, discussing important curriculum issues, and thus expanding our knowledge in curriculum.

The course will focus on some of the perennial questions around which curriculum scholars have organized theory, research, and teaching in curriculum: What do schools teach?; Who should decide what schools teach?; What is the primary aim of education?; Whose knowledge is most valuable?; and Who should be involved with curriculum development? Keeping these questions at the heart of this course, the purpose of this course is threefold: First, to provide students with an introduction to the field of curriculum theory and practice; Second, to help students be familiar with the process of curriculum development; And finally, to help students come to know themselves as a curriculum thinker.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. •Understand and describe curriculum history and perspectives;
   

2. •Understand and describe the process of curriculum development;
   

3. •Create their own curriculum platform; and
   

4. •Articulate critically current issues in the field of curriculum.
   

5. 
   

Course Topics

1.The Foundations of Curriculum and Curriculum Theory: We will look at different approaches to curriculum from philosophical, historical, political, economical and social perspectives. Topics include:

1. • The Character of Curriculum/Curriculum History
   

2. •Kinds of Curricula that All Schools Teach
   

3. •Scientific Management
   

4. •Progressive Education
   

5. •Curriculum Theorizing
   

6. •Hidden Curriculum      
   

2.The Principles of Curriculum: We will look at curriculum planning and development; curriculum implementation; curriculum evaluation & student assessment; and politics and curriculum decision making.

Topics include:

1. •  Basic Principles of Curriculum
   

2. •  Curriculum Development and Change
   

3. •  Curriculum Planning: Levels of Participants
   

4. •  Curriculum Implementation
   

5. •  Curriculum Evaluation and Student Assessment
   

3.Current Issues in Curriculum: We will look at issues related to curriculum reform; national standards; and future directions.

Topics include:

1. •  Politics and Curriculum Decision Making
   

2. •  Curriculum in practice: Curriculum in the State of Kansas
   

3. •  Standards Movement/Accountability Movement
   

4. •  Curriculum Reform Movement
   

5. •  Multicultural issues
   

6. •  Technology in classroom, etc.