Week 7

I cannot believe it is week 7 already.Today in class we learnt about the curriculum approaches which are the behavioural,managerial,system,academic and humanistic approach.We have learnt about these approaches before but today it is much more in depth.Let us go one by one.

Behavioural Approach

This is the oldest approach in the book.It has evolved over the years and it has allowed for research that investigates the mind.Behaviourists believe that students will experience and respond to the curriculum in unique ways,depending on their cultural interpretations and prior life activities which is very true.Let me give you an example,when I was in secondary school,I placed high priorities when it comes to education.The reason why I studied really hard was because of my cultural interpretations.I came from a traditional chinese family whereby education was placed as the highest priority and if you do not do well in your studies your are considered a disgrace and are going to be looked down by your family.

The videos above will give you an idea about what I am trying to state.Hence,I studied for the sake of the grades but not too exactly learn and grow to contribute to society.After joining a youth ministry in church,I have changed my perspective towards curriculum and education as a whole.I now learn for growth,so that I can improve myself to make change in this world.

Managerial Approach

This approach considers the school as a social system reminiscent of organisational theory,whereby groups of people such as students,teachers,curriculum specialists and administrators interact according to certain norms and behaviours.Educators who rely on this approach plan the curriculum in terms of programs,schedules,space,resources and equipment and personnel.A lot of consideration is given to committee and group process,human relations,leadership styles and methods and decision making.This approach tends to focus on instruction that centred around individualisation,departmentalisation,non grading,classroom,grouping and homeroom and works study.It is something like the education system in the states.This is actually a really great approach and I think it is better than most approaches used in Malaysia.If I were to be given choice I would wish for a non grading system because I was to focused on the grades to the extent that I did not care about learning,I only cared about getting good grades so that I will not be looked down upon by my peers but on the other hand,without a graded system some students may not have the motivation to actually study.I like the idea of work study activities,I feel that people's minds work best when they are active and not passive like how our minds always are in traditional classroom settings.

The video above will clarify what I am saying.It has a great message.

System Approach

This approach tends to view various units and sub-units of the organisation in relation to the whole and organisational diagrams,flow charts and committee structures are often diagrammed as curriculum plan is introduced and monitored,sometimes referred to as curriculum.This approach includes the process necessary to plan the curriculum by people like the superintendents,directors,coordinators and principals and the structures.I think this is a good idea because we need professionals to keep track of our standard of education and it has to be done regularly because our world is never static and our education cannot be either because we need to prepare our students for the ever changing world.

Academic Approach

Sometimes referred to as the traditional,encyclopaedia,synoptic,intellectual or knowledge oriented approach.The academic approach tries to analyse and synthesise the major positions,trends and concepts of the curriculum.The approach tends to be historical or philosophical or to lesser extent social science in nature.In this approach,the discussion of curriculum making is usually scholarly and theoretic not practical which to me is not something I would really prefer.I feel that the best way to learn something is with hands on experience and this approach is the approach you often find in chinese schools.You will remember the facts in school quickly but you will also quickly forget because that is how memorisation is.When you experience something for yourself,it is quite hard to forget.

Humanistic Approach

The humanistic approach is focused more on scientific and rational aspects thereby missing the personal and social aspects of curriculum matter,rarely consider the need for self-reflectiveness and self-actualisation among learners and finally overlook the sociopyschological dynamics of classroom and schools.Numerous curriculum activities have emerged mainly at the elementary school level,including lessons based on life experience,group games,group projects,artistic endeavours,dramatisations,field trips,homework and tutorial centres.These activities include creative problem solving and active student participation,socialisation and life adjustment for students as well as stronger family and school-community ties.I think this is an extremely great approach because of the various ways of carrying out a lesson.Many people including myself are bored of the traditional way of learning whereby all students do are just sit in the classroom for hours and absorb everything the teachers are teaching.The world is changing and education should change as well to meet the needs of our ever changing society.

That is all for Topic 7,we also continued with Topic 8 which is about the roles and responsibilities of curriculum workers.Mr Wan started this chapter by asking us who the curriculum workers are.The first people that came to my mind were teachers but there are many other people who deserve the right to be called as curriculum workers and that range goes from teachers to superintendents.

The term curriculum worker is used interchangeably with curriculum supervisor,curriculum leader,curriculum coordinator and curriculum specialist.We also learned about what teachers do as curriculum worker.I was very intrigued by the question because one day I am studying to become a teacher and my dream is to publish my very own textbook which the whole nation would use.I know I have big dreams but you only have one life you are suppose to dream big.There are actually for steps in creating curriculum.I will state my sentiments on each of them.

1.Planning

As Mr Wan said,when you fail to plan,you are planning for failure.A teacher needs to make sure everything is well taught out.They need to know the needs of every student and make sure NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND!Thinking about this brings me a lot of painful memories of my past in secondary school.I had many teachers who are ridiculously inconsiderate and I think should not be teachers.I went home crying so many times because of the terrible remarks the teachers gave about me.I feel that these teachers do zero planning when it comes to education.The core value a teacher must have is to be kind,patient and considerate to their students but my secondary school teachers(most of them) were not like that.They would teach and be in their own world and they did not even care about us students.My Physics teacher once told me that he did not even care if I passed my SPM or not.How could he say that?They have this mentality that the reason why we did not do well is because we did not work hard enough or that we are dumb and lazy but I have some news for you teachers who have this stupid mentality.EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT!No two people are ever the same.Teachers should take into consideration that we are all different and teach according to the students space and to never put them down when they fail.Teachers always think it's the students problems but did they ever stop to wonder,maybe it is their fault for failing to plan a proper lesson?Think about it.Sorry I needed to vent my anger towards my ignorant secondary school teachers.

EVERY STUDENT IS DIFFERENT.Here's a video to show you that I am not the only one who thinks this way.There are many types of people in this world.

2.Creation

Well to have a content,you need to create.(DUH)Once all the planing is done,teachers have to use their knowledge during their planning to stage and create input for students to learn.The content should meet the needs of students to face the real world and improve themselves.Content should not be too tough for slower students and enrichment content should be given to faster students.That is why some schools prefer to stream their students according to their capabilities,so that teachers will be able to teach the students according to their needs but there are some schools like Lodge school who do not believe in such an implementation because they believe weaker students are able to learn from the smarter students.Hence,they do not have streaming in their school.

3.Implementation

What's the use of a creation or content if you do not implement it in class.A teacher should teach the curriculum in their classrooms but there are times when the curriculum is not planned out by a teacher who is carrying a class.It can be implemented by someone else.For example,a teacher is sick and a substitute teacher is given the lesson plan of the sick teacher.Hence,she has to carry out the curriculum of the other teacher.To me,if you are a novice in the classroom and you really believe that the curriculum created by the teacher who has given you an assigned curriculum which you did not create is not worth implementing.You should discuss it with other teachers with more experience before you start teaching your class.Every teacher has different opinions on how classes should be taught.The curriculum could be designed by a very traditional teacher who does not believe much in change but the teacher assigned could be a millennial and thinks there are better and more modern ways to teach a class.That is not to say older teachers do not think modern ways to teach students are great.This is just an example.

4.Reflection

I have said it many times and I will say it again.Reflection and evaluation is important for teaching.There is always room for improvement in life and even if you are super great in a certain field.You still are able to improve.You are not God,hence nothing you do will able be perfect but you can always improve yourself.Even if the improvement is minor,you can still brush it up.Slowly but surely,you will see big results when you constantly reflect for improvement.

References

15 Types Of Students in College Classrooms. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew1xwuJskow

15 Types Of Students in College Classrooms. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew1xwuJskow

ARE ASIAN STEREOTYPES TRUE?? - Lunch Break!. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3xY2ZA4LT0

Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. (2016). Static1.squarespace.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016, from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/50eca855e4b0939ae8bb12d9/t/51d71f4ee4b01caf88caffb1/1373052752106/We-do-not-learn-from.jpg

Do you HATE your job? - Job Expectations. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddg1GKoi8xg&t=2s

Growing up ASIAN - Lunch Break!. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 27 November 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-IuU2nnjNE