Everything the teacher teaches and the students learn. We often do not think of curriculum as EVERYTHING that is absorbed by the learners in the school setting throughout the school day. Curriculum could include anything from a fire drill to the recitation of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18. It could include the basketball game following the school day to the science experiment on gases.

Teacher Feature

Professor and Elementary STEM Educator, Dr. Michael Hammond-Todd.

Teacher Feature Reflection Questions:

1. Why did Dr. Hammond-Todd become a teacher and ultimately a professor?
2. What does Dr. Hammond-Todd believes makes him a good teacher?
3. What is Dr. Hammond-Todd’s favorite part of being a teacher/professor?
4. What advice would Dr. Hammond-Todd give to new teachers?

Utah Education Flashback

Utah native, Philo T. Farnsworth, was a talented scientist and inventor from a young age. In 1938, he unveiled a prototype of the first all-electric television, and went on to lead research in nuclear fusion. Despite his continued scientific success, Farnsworth was dogged by lawsuits and died, in debt, in Salt Lake City on March 11, 1971.

Curriculum

Curriculum refers to the set of learning goals, objectives, and instructional materials that are used to guide teaching and learning in an educational program or course. It encompasses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students are expected to learn and develop, as well as the methods, activities, and assessments that are used to support their learning.

Curriculum can be designed for a variety of educational settings, from preschools and elementary schools to high schools, colleges, and universities. It can be structured in a variety of ways, such as by subject area, grade level, or educational philosophy, and can be adapted to meet the needs and interests of different students and communities.

Curriculum development typically involves a process of planning, design, implementation, and evaluation, in which educators work collaboratively to identify learning objectives, select appropriate materials and activities, and assess student learning outcomes. Curriculum can also be revised and updated over time in response to changes in educational goals, societal needs, and advances in knowledge and technology.

Hidden Curriculum
Hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unspoken, and often implicit values, beliefs, and attitudes that students learn in school, outside of the formal curriculum. It includes the social, cultural, and moral lessons that are conveyed through the norms and expectations of the school environment, as well as through interactions with teachers and peers.

Explicit Curriculum
Explicit curriculum refers to the formal and planned aspects of education, including the stated goals, objectives, and content of instruction. This is the curriculum that is explicitly taught and assessed in the classroom, and it typically includes a range of subjects such as math, science, social studies, language arts, and physical education.

Explicit curriculum is often defined by state or national standards that outline the specific skills and knowledge that students are expected to master at each grade level. Teachers design lesson plans and assessments that align with these standards, and they use a variety of instructional strategies and resources to help students meet the learning objectives.

Examples of explicit curriculum:

• A math lesson on fractions and decimals, including a lecture, guided practice, and independent practice with worksheets.
• A science unit on ecosystems, including a series of labs, readings, and discussions that explore the interdependence of living organisms in different environments.
• A language arts unit on persuasive writing, including instruction on the elements of a persuasive essay, guided practice writing prompts, and peer review.

Integrated Curriculum
Integrated curriculum is an approach to education that combines different subjects or areas of study into a cohesive and interconnected whole. In an integrated curriculum, students might study topics like environmental science, for example, by examining the ways in which different disciplines like biology, chemistry, and geology all contribute to our understanding of the natural world. They might also explore the ways in which different cultural perspectives shape our understanding of the environment and influence our actions towards it.

Null Curriculum
The null curriculum refers to the elements of a curriculum that are not explicitly taught or included in the educational program. These are the topics, skills, and knowledge that are not covered in the curriculum, either intentionally or unintentionally. An example of the null curriculum could be “not” teaching a novel that is racially insensitive in a particular part of the country where students may be emotionally affected.

Extracurriculum
Extracurricular activities are activities that take place outside of the regular academic curriculum of a school or college. These activities are designed to allow students to pursue their interests and passions, develop new skills and talents, and engage in social and community service activities. Extracurricular activities can include sports, clubs, music and theater programs, community service initiatives, and more.

Participation in extracurricular activities has been shown to have many benefits for students, including improved academic performance, increased self-confidence, and greater leadership and teamwork skills. Extracurricular activities can also provide valuable opportunities for students to explore their interests and passions, meet new friends, and develop important life skills.

Many schools and colleges offer a wide range of extracurricular activities for students to choose from, and participation is often encouraged or even required for certain programs or scholarships. Students can also create their own extracurricular clubs or initiatives with the support of school administrators and teachers.

Assessments
Assessment is the process of gathering and evaluating information or data about an individual’s learning progress or achievement. This process is used in educational settings to determine whether students are meeting the learning objectives or standards set for them. Assessment can take many forms, such as tests, quizzes, projects, essays, observations, and self-assessments. The results of assessments are used to provide feedback to students and inform instruction and curriculum development

Formative Assessments
Formative assessments are assessments used to measure a student’s progress and learning during the instructional process. These assessments are informal, ongoing, and low-stakes. Their purpose is to help teachers identify areas where students are struggling and adjust instruction accordingly. Examples of formative assessments include quizzes, class discussions, and observations made by the teacher as instruction takes place.

Summative Assessments
Summative assessments are assessments that are given at the end of a learning period, typically to evaluate a student’s overall knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or course. These types of assessments are often used to determine a student’s final grade or level of proficiency. Examples of summative assessments include final exams, end-of-unit tests, and final projects.

High Stakes Testing
High Stakes Testing refers to a type of standardized testing that is used to make important decisions about students, teachers, and schools. These tests typically have significant consequences, such as determining grade promotion or graduation, teacher evaluations, school funding, or even school closure.

Examples of high-stakes tests include state assessments like the SAT, ACT, or AP exams, as well as teacher performance evaluations and school accreditation measures. The use of high-stakes testing in education is a controversial issue.

Vocabulary

Curriculum

Hidden or Implicit Curriculum

Integrated Curriculum

Explicit Curriculum

Extracurriculum

Pedagogy

Teaching Strategies

Assessment

Formative Assesssment

Summative Assessment

High Stakes Testing