Week 9

It's week 9!In Week 9 we learnt about the curriculum implementation.The class started off with Mr Wan asking us the meaning stakeholders of the curriculum were.From the word stake,I assume that stakeholders are people who take risks on something.Hence,I told Mr Wan that stakeholders meant people who take chances and risks on something and I was right.We,students are considered stakeholders as well when we enter a university.We dedicate our time and energy hoping to get a good education.

Mr Wan then said that learners are the centre of the curriculum.This is because the very reason why a curriculum is developed is to influence students to become better people and be ready for the outside world.Right now,having a secondary education is not enough unless you have a mind like Bill Gates,Mark Zuckerberg or are extremely smart and talented in a certain field,it can be quite tough to find a job that would pay well for you to live a comfortable lifestyle but that doesn't mean people who do not have a degree cannot live a comfortable lifestyle.In fact,I came across an article on Facebook about a man who survived with only RM3 a day.Here's his story.

He is really an inspiration for those many people who did not get a tertiary education or even get a secondary education.I am very blessed to have a father who works extremely hard to put me through a university.My father wants me to have security.Hence,we gave me an opportunity to study in a university.

Moving on,Mr Wan also taught us that teachers are curriculum developers and implementers.They create content and implement their content which is very vital.He also mentioned about the curriculum managers and administrators.For example the PK1,PK2 and principal.They supervise,select and recruit,admit and procure.They are the ones who plan for the school's improvement.Before Mr Wan told us what the principal did,I always assumed that the principal would usually dump all the work to the PK1 and PK2 and all they do is just wonder around the school or what we Malaysians call 'makan agin' which means enjoying themselves but Mr Wan said they did more than that.They walk around the school to supervise the teachers and make sure that their teaching methods are effective.I told Mr Wan that I hardly see my principal in school but he told me that sometimes they have things to do outside of school.It changed my mind and how I saw principals.I guess they are really busy.I always thought that they were lazy.Other than that,parents are also supporters in the curriculum and are actually the best supporters.I told Mr Wan that during the PIBG meetings they have in school,almost none of the parents show up.Mr Wan said he wonders why none of them show up and that it is good for them to show up because teachers need feedback.Without feedback,teachers will not know what is needed of their children.Furthermore,Mr Wan also said that community members are community resources.They substitute for what is needed to implement the curriculum.For example,we need sponsors,public speakers and coaches for students.He also mentioned that organisations like SSPCA or the Sarawak Cancer Society are stakeholders for curriculum because the curriculum influences the minds of the students who are the future of our country to run organisations like SSPCA and Sarawak Cancer Society.If we do not educate our young minds on the importance of helping other people,they would never partake in such activities.This reminds me of when I first entered secondary school.When I was in Form 1,all the clubs in school were packed with members because my seniors placed high importance in co-curriculum but as the year past by,the curriculum started placing less importance on co-curriculum and more on public examinations.Hence,there was less participation in any clubs and societies in our school.

We also discussed about the role of technology in delivering the curriculum.There is media technology like Facebook,Twitter and Youtube.I think you can learn anything on Youtube.I can give you an example.I had  no idea to cook.My mother passed away when I was 16 and I had no idea how to cook.Hence,I learnt from a myriad of Youtube videos by chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver.I now am able to cook for myself.There are also learning technology available.

The question is why is technology selected to help us with the curriculum?Here are the answers:

1.It is practical.

Take a look at this video about teenagers reacting to encyclopaedias and you will get what I mean.

2.Objective-matching

3.Appropriateness in relation to the learner

4.Activity/Suitability

Basically anything can be learnt through technology.It is so suitable for the young minds who loves learning through videos and games.It helps them learn in a fun and interesting way.This reminds me of a video I saw on Youtube.Here it is and it will reinforce my sentiments on why technology is important to help students learn and succeed.

The roles of educational technology in delivering the school curriculum:

-Upgrading the quality of teaching and learning in schools(Sadly,even though the use of technology has been increasing in many schools and the country,I still do not think we use it enough to help our students.Especially those that are still in secondary school because teachers think it will be distracting for secondary school students.Sal Khan,founder of Khan Academy has a great idea of how technology can reinvent education.The video can be found down below)

-Increasing the capability of teacher to effectively inculcate learning and for students to gain matter of lessons and courses

-Broadening the delivery of education outside of school

-Revolutionizing the use of ethnology to boost educational paradigm that gives the importance to student-centred learning and holistic learning.

We also learnt about the pilot testing,monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the curriculum.Pilot testing or field try out is a process where you gather empirical data and it usually follows some form of research design.It has an experimental method and assures the teachers and the school that indeed the curriculum materials are ready to be used but to be brutally honest,I do not think the Malaysian Education System does this.I mean WHY IS OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM still so terrible?Students are still learning to memorise 36 moral values' definitions for SPM.This is not how we are suppose to plant kind and ethical minds.I think the Malaysian Education System should pilot test more or at least get opinions from education systems like Finland or America.

We also need to monitor the success of the curriculum.If we don't.We won't know where we went wrong or where we went right.It should happen from time to time like a formative evaluation.This helps to see whether the curriculum is relevant and working.I am not sure if the Ministry of Education is actually doing this in our country though because I don't see a ton of changes in the education system.There is also curriculum evaluation.It is the process of judging the value and effectives and adequacy of curriculum.There are two ways of evaluation:-

1.School-Based Evaluation

-An approach to curriculum evaluation which places the content,design and operation of evaluation procedure

-The school personnel participate in planning and conduct of school evaluation activities

(I guess this is what the principal who I thought does nothing,actually does.I guess my lesson from this is to not jump to conclusions so quickly)

-It is a participative  evaluation where the control and the process rest on the school personnel themselves

-A range of evaluation make take place in the school

(This is actually a great idea because the curriculum does take place in school.Hence,what other better way is there to evaluate the curriculum?)

Advantages of School-Based Evaluation?

1.Accountability is shared by all.Hence bias and conflict are minimised

2.The school personnel develop evaluation skills

3.The real concern of the school and community are addressed by the evaluation

4.Broad participation of school personnel provide opportunities for building school cohesiveness
5.Provide reliable and valid information on curriculum,resources and general school functioning.

2.Accreditation
-A voluntary process of submitting a curricular program to an external accrediting body for review in any level of education.
-Studies the statement of he educational intentions of the school

Reflection:I think this is a good idea because we need a big professional association to help us decided whether our education is worth pursuing.Just like my degree in Unitar,if it isn't accredited by the Malaysisan government,I won't bother studying there.

There are also areas professionals need to look into for accreditation.Firstly and I dare say most importantly,is the curriculum and program of studies.They need to evaluate whether what is being learnt is relevant and of a certain standard.Classroom management is also important to look into.How does a teacher manage his or her classes?Does he give arbitrary test scores to his students?Does he or she provide opportunities to develop independent lifelong learners?Instructional process or methodologies needs to be looked into as well.Professionals need to confirm whether the right principles and theories are used to enhance learning outcomes.Areas such as graduation requirements,administrative support for effective instruction and evaluation of academic performance have to be looked into as well.This is because a university cannot have requirements that are too low for students to graduate.It doesn't guarantee them the tools and skills they need to work in the real world.Low graduation requirements will only make the students suffer more when they leave.As for the academic performance of students,the learning outcomes of the students must be evaluated to determine whether the students have learnt something.It will serve as proof that the curriculum is worth pursuing.

References

5 Reasons You WILL Succeed. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQy4mm4YgN4

Let's use video to reinvent education | Salman Khan. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTFEUsudhfs&t=5s

MALAYSIAN STORIES: I Survived On RM3 A Day For 6 Months. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMwRYqcM2o&t=1s

TEENS REACT TO ENCYCLOPEDIAS. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 4 December 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7aJ3xaDMuM&t=145s