Implementing the

Curriculum

It is the phase where teacher action takes place.

It is one of the most crucial processes in curriculum development although many education planners would say :

“A Good plan is work half done ’’.

Curriculum implementation means putting into practice the written curriculum that has been designed in syllabi, course of study, curricular guides and subjects.

It is a process wherein the learners acquire the planned or intended knowledge, skills, attitudes that are aimed at enabling the same learners to function effectively in the society.

Ornstein and Hunkins (1998)

As the interaction between the curriculum that has been written and planned and the person who are in charged to deliver it. To them, curriculum implementation implies the following :

•Shift from what is the current to a new or enhanced curriculum.•Change in knowledge, actions, attitudes of the person involved.•Change in behavior using new strategies and resources.•Change which requires efforts hence goals should be achievable.

Loucks and Lieberman (1983)• The trying out of a new practice and what it looks like when actually used in a school system.

In the classroom context• Teaching

• Implementing means using the plan as a guide to engage with the learners in the teaching learning process with the end in view that learning has occurred and learning outcomes have been achieved.

• It involves the different strategies of teaching with the support instructional materials to go with the strategy.

In the larger scale• Putting the curriculum into operation with the different implementing agents.• Curriculum implementation takes place in a class, a school, a district, a division, or the whole higher education system.

In higher education

• happens for the course, a degree program, the institution or the whole higher education system. It requires time, money, personal interaction, personal contacts and support.

Curriculum Implementation

as a Change Process

Kurt Levin’s Force Field Theory and

Curriculum Change

Kurt Levin (1951)• As the father of social psychology explains the process of change, the model can be used to explain curriculum change and implementation.

In the educational landscape

•There are always two forces that oppose each other. These are the driving force and the restraining force.

Driving Force EQUI LIBRIUM

Restraining Forces

Government Intervention

Fear of the Unknown

Society’s Values Negative Attitude to change

Technological Changes

Tradition values

Knowledge Explosion

Limited Resources

Administrative Support Obsolete

equipment

Based on Kevin’s Force Field Model

Categories of Curriculum

Change

1. Substitution – The current curriculum will be replaced or substituted by a new one. Sometimes, we call this a complete overhaul.

2. Alteration – there is a minor change to the current or existing curriculum.

McNeil in 1990 categorized curriculum change as follows:

4. Perturbations – these are changes that are disruptive, but teachers have to adjust to them within a fairly short time.

3. Restructuring – building a new structure would mean major change or modification in the school system, degree program or educational system.

5. Value orientation – To McNeil, this is a type of curriculum change. Perhaps this classification will respond to shift in the emphasis that the teacher provides which are not within the mission or vision of the school or vice versa.

3 elements of Curriculum

implementation

Developmental Participatory Supportive

Developmental - should develop multi perspective and make learning autonomous.There should be teacher support in trying new task, reflection on the new experiences and challenge.

Participatory - for curriculum implementation to succeed. Because other stakeholder like peers, school leader, parents and curriculum specialist necessary.

Supportive - curriculum implementation is required in the process of change. Material support like supplies, equipment, conductive learning environment like classroom, laboratory should made available.

Time is an important commodity for a successful change process. And Support from peers, principal ,external stakeholder will add to the success of implementation.

Prepared by:

Regine C. Batahoy Aizsa P. Rautraut Aimee Rose U. Vallente

BEEd - IV