Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making

No prerequisite

In this course, students will learn to develop a curriculum and to evaluate it knowledgeably by engaging in curriculum design. The course will consider current issues in curriculum design and curriculum leadership. The major design frameworks for the development of curricula will be explored, including how decisions should be made about curriculums. Students will conduct mapping, at the primary and secondary levels of education for International school systems.

UNIT 1: What is curriculum: Introductions; Syllabus and course requirements; What is curriculum? Curriculum and the goals of education

UNIT 2: Considering the goals of Primary and Secondary education in the development of curriculum; Graduation goals and learning progressions; Subjects and strands for Primary and Secondary education

UNIT 3: Backward design and the politics of curriculum decision-making; Intro to standards and using standards to develop goals;

UNIT 4: Standards, standardized tests, and curriculum; Identifying priority standards and supporting standards

UNIT 5: Organizing curricula around thinking and conceptual understanding; The thinking curriculum; Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to identify levels of thinking skills

UNIT 6: Essential questions and unit themes; standards infrastructure, including anchor standards, priority goals, and supporting standards

UNIT 7: Assessment and acceptable evidence; Determining acceptable evidence of attainment; Summative and formative assessment; Intro to rubrics and scoring guides; Outcome, evidence, criteria, task, rubric, use of results

UNIT 8: Planning learning experiences; the role of experience in education

UNIT 9: Designing experiences for all learners, and planning lessons

UNIT 10: Curriculum Evaluation

By the end of the course, the candidate will:

• To develop a significant piece of curriculum for one grade and subject.
• To understand and use curriculum design and evaluation frameworks.
• To critically examine issues in curriculum development and evaluation, including the roles of various stakeholders in decision-making about curriculum, the pros and cons of a national curriculum, and the characteristics of quality learning experiences.
• To understand and how to structure curriculum and create learning experiences that are broadly impactful for students.

The online delivery blends synchronous and asynchronous components. Students complete self-directed assignments hosted on the course platform. Weekly Forums support a required active, rubric-based student contributions that foster collaboration.

Exams may include essays, short answers, or MCQs. Formats include open/closed book. Time zones are considered. Assessments are formative and summative. Students have 2 weeks to review grades and must follow the appeal process in the Student Handbook.

Certificate

Please note that there are three semesters as admission periods as noted on the academic calendar.
Scholarship Awarded (Total Fee: €100)

Registration is done online.