Thought’s Prior:
This week we started to discuss the project we are about to embark on as a Cohort. We are creating an online resource that aims to support parents and teachers during this transition into online and blended learning models. This is obviously an unprecedented time within the world and within education. However, it is also a great opportunity to learn and strive for a new understanding of what education can look like. What a glorious undertaking you’re thinking. Although that’s true, I have very recently realized how difficult creating learning outcomes and designing curriculum truly is. As a teacher, I am handed the play book on what I have to accomplish. Essentially, I sit down one day, look at the various outcomes and put them into a plan of attack. How do I accomplish these? What’s the best way to blend multiple subjects together? How do I best distribute these outcomes across my entire year plan? Oh, and how do I teach all of this with all the vacation time I’m given? No problem though, this is what I was trained for I practice this skill every single year when I create my year plan. As I move from year to year I better learn the outcomes and know how to integrate them more and more. So what’s so hard about designing the curriculum?
Reality Check:
Well, let me be completely honest when I say designing curriculum is not easy, trust me. Between the entire 26 people in my cohort I am sure many of us at one point or another thought “wait…what?” I have always been given the playbook on curriculum, I have never had to step all the way back and ask myself “what is important for someone else to know and teach in this area?” I found we circles around massive ideas about student engagement, assessment, participation and connection. These topics is not small by any means. They encompass thousands of ideas and routes one can take to accomplish these goals. However, they also pose major road blocks. So although I am extremely excited for this opportunity to take a step back and look at the biggest picture, I am realizing that this is not going to be a small task. Anybody else have a new respect for those who actually designed our curriculum? I sure do!
Check back in to see what other types of struggles and strives I make is this area of learning.
You share an interesting perspective that resonates with me. I was not aware of how challenging it can be to word learning outcomes so they are clear and encompass all that you want to include.