Curriculum Design Theories

Curriculum Desgin Theories

Malorie Claes College of Education, Grand Canyon University EDU-522:Curriculum Design Theories Dr. Mary Webb December 7th, 2022

Index

Overview of Curriculum Design Theory

Summary of Curriculum Design Theory

Subject-Centered Design Theory

Learner-Centered Design Theory

Problem-Centered Design Theory

Summary of Design Approaches

Resources

Overview of Curriculum Design Process

What is the process?

• Curciculum design process can be explained as the step-by-step process used to create improvement in schools (Stutt, 2022).
• The curriculum design process is a very difficult process.
• It takes a lot of collaboration, planning, and decision making (Moore, 2021).
• The curriculum design process consists of six steps (Moore, 2021):
• Principles and Purpose
• Find the intent of the curriculum
• Entitilement and Enrichment
• How you will incorporate what your students already know and how their learning will be broadened
• Breadth and Balance
• Putting together the content of the curriculum and how you will teach it
• Teaching Narrative
• Planning how you will deliver/teach the curriculum
• Resources
• Making sure that the curriculum is using high quality resources
• Review and Evaluate
• Reflect on the curriculm and decide what went well and what could be changed for future lessons

Summary of Curriculum Design Theory

• Curriculum Design Theory is a way for educators to take their framework, and make sure that their students are learning all that they can.
• When designing a curriculum, to consider philosphy and learning theories to ensure students will learn in the most effective way (Umran, 2020).
• There are three different models of curriculum design (Stutt, 2022):
• Subject-centered design
• Lerarner-centered design
• Problem-centered design

• Curriculum design is the specific way that curriculum is organized and delivered within a clssroom (Stutt, 2022).
• When designing curriculum educators are looking for (Stutt, 2022):
• Learnig objectives
• Method(s) of delivery
• Timely and relevant bridge-ins
• Course content and readings
• Both low- and high-stakes assessments

Curriculum Design Theory Models

(Stutt, 2022)

Problem-Centered Design Theory

Subject-Centered Design Theory

Learner-Centered Design Theory

Revolves aroudnd the students and their needs.

Revolves around finding a solution to a problem.

Revolves around a specific subject.

01

Subject-centered Design Theory

Subject-Centered Design Theory in a Classroom

(Alagos, 2022)

Subject-Centered Design Theory

What is it?

• Subject-centered design theory is a theory that revolves around a specific subject matter rather than the students (Stutt, 2022).
• Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science, etc.
• Subject-centered design is the most comoom design theory found in schools.
• School districts send out pacing guides with dated timelines to follow.
• Subject-centered is not curriculum driven and not concerned with individual learning styles.
• There can sometimes be low engagement and motivation from the students (Stutt, 2022).
• This can be caused by not being interested or feeling connected to how the curriculum is being delivered.

02

Learner-Centered Design Theory

Learner-Centered Design Theory in a Classroom

(Alagos, 2022)

Learner-Centered Design Theory

What is it?

• Learner-centered design theory is a theory that revolves around student needs, interests, and goals (Stutt, 2022).
• Different academic levels, likes/dislikes, etc.
• Learner-centered design acknowledges that not all students are uniform and have individual ways of learning.
• Since studnets are individuals, they should not have to learn in standaradized ways.

• Subject-centered design is the most comoom design theory found in elementary and preschools schools.
• Learner-centered curriculum is made up of sleceted assignments that are interesting and relevant to the students.
• This design theory often encourages high engagement and motivation from the students (Stutt, 2022).
• This can be caused due to them feeling like they are represented within the classroom.
• This leanring theory can create added work and pressure on to teachers.
• This is caused by teachers having to create content around each individual students needs and preferences.

03

Problem-Centerd Design Theory

Problem-Centered Design Theory in a Classroom

(Alagos, 2022)

Problem-Centered Design Theory

What is it?

• Problem-centered design theory is a theory that revolves around teaching students how to look at a problem and create a solution for that problem (Stutt, 2022).

• Problem-centered design is said to engage students in more of an authentic learning style.
• This is because they are provided with real world problems/issues and develop life skills.

• Problem-centered design theory increases creativity, innovation, and collaboration to relevent topics in the classroom (Stutt, 2022).
• Students work together to solve these real world problems while building the necessary skills they will need in the future.
• Like the subject-centered design theory, sometimes this theory does not allow for all individual needs and interests to be reprepsented in the classroom.

Summary of Design Approaches

What are they? (Ornstein & Hunkins, 2016)

• Behaviorial Design Approach
• This is the oldest and most used approach.
• It is based off of models and step by step directions that follow a set plan.
• Managerial Design Approach
• This approach revolves around the social aspect of schools and how everyone interacts with one another.
• Managerial design also relies on a plan and logical steps while it is being used.
• Systems Academic Design Approach
• The systems appraoch is similar to the managerial approach but emphasizes the organization of people, policies, the school, and curriculum.
• This way of thinkinking allows for people to see that they must learn how to communicate, cooporate, and respect others' opions when wourking in a group.
• Academic Design Approach
• This approach is known as the tradtitional, encylopedic, synoptic, intellectual, knowledge-oriented approach.
• The academic design approach is much more scholarly, theoretical, and broad.

• Humanistic Design Approach
• The humanistic approach is rooted in progressive philosophy and is driven by child-centered learning.
• This approach allows for lessons based on life experiences, colloboration, field trips, creative problem solving, and many opportunities for socialization.
• Postmodern Design Approach
• The postmodern design apporach states that there is no one certain way to design curriculum
• This approach looks at school as an extension of society and focuses on how the curriculum works with they political, econimic, social, moral, and artisitc ways

References

Alagos, E. (2022). Representative of curriculum designs (Part 1: Subject-centered designs). Video. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnZyMRt4XHU&t=5s Alagos, E. (2022). Representative of curriculum designs (Part 2: Learner-centered designs). Video. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4VHDggtAAI Alagos, E. (2022). Representative of curriculum designs (Part 3: Problem-centered designs). Video. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSfkIBd-rAw Moore, M. 2021. Six steps of curriculum design. Cornerstones. https://cornerstoneseducation.co.uk/news/how-to-design-your-curriculum/ Ornstein, A. C., & Hunkins, F. P. (2016). Curriculum: Foundations, principles, and issues, 7/e. (7th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ Stutt, A. (2022,). Curriculum development and the 3 models. Top Hat. https://tophat.com/blog/curriculum-development-models-design/ Umran, S. (2020). Curriculum design approaches of pre-service teachers receiving pedagogical formation training. International Journal of Progressive Education, 16(4), 192–200. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1273101.pdf/ : 10.29329/ijpe.2020.268.12