Reflective_Paper

Curriculum Design Lamar Choucair Chapter 2 Reflective Journal I believe that “philosophy” is the foundation for every new school. I also believe that every school should follow at least one philosophy. But to follow such a philosophy, the school should take the environment into consideration. It should study the society’s traditions and beliefs. From my experience, as a new teacher in a new school. The school where I taught in, went through some difficulties because of that. As a new school, it strictly followed the Existelialism. At the beginning, students and teachers were happy how the school went. There was so much freedom of chioce. Teachers and students were relaxed, not a lot of studies and work. All was fine during the first semester. However, parents started to complain about the curriculum. They were confused because there were no science books, there was no homework to be sent home. Thus, the principle had to change the curriculum. She kept the teaching hours to be creative and fun, but she included science books and started sending math, reading, and spelling homework. However, not all teachers were creative,and thus the principle had to change the curriculum, and thus we ended teaching the traditional way. However, the second year the principle learning from the previous year, came up with a better curriculum. She prepared her teachers for seminars on her new curriculum. She ordered science books, and added spanish as a third language. Her school philosophy was a bit from all four major philosophies. The second year the school had a better year for teachers, students and parents. In my opinion, the school should follow a philosophy that works for the benefits of the society. Curriculum Design Lamar Choucair Chapter 1 Reflective Journal My current understanding of the word “curriculum” is a system that consists of social educational rules that affect school and society. Curriculum is a dynamic system that organizes social activities. I think it develops as society develops. I also think it reflects the society’s values, knowledge and perceptions. In this course, I see it would help to have a better understanding of the curriculum as a broad system. It will also give me a better idea on how the curriculum works from different points of approaches. It will also help me evaluate each approach and come up with a different approach. What I hope to develop in the curriculum is merging the four approaches into one approach. We can take from the Behavioral approach the organization of goals and objectives. From the Managerial approach, to put these objectives into actions in institutes such as schools, where teachers, parents and students should be involved in this system. From the Systems approach, we can focus on the need of training teachers, and have multiple methods for monitoring results. As for the Academic approach, we can focus on broadening the subjects, including more class subjects such as history, philosophy, social and politics. In humanistic approach, it focuses on personal and interpersonal. It also concentrates on student’s self-concept, self-esteem, and personal identity which are essential factors. If we gather the highlighted ideas from the approaches, we can come up with a new approach called the “Lamar Approach”. That approach focuses on school as an active social institute, and train teachers to focus on students’ interests. It also focuses on students’ mental and emotional achievements with respect to society. In my opinion, the curriculum is a complicated system, and it should serve its society and satisfy its need. And as the world is developing, the curriculum should always upgrade its system.