Curriculum Development Models to Know for Education in American Culture

Curriculum development models shape how education is delivered in American culture. These models guide educators in creating effective learning experiences, ensuring alignment with societal needs, and fostering collaboration among teachers, students, and communities for a more meaningful educational journey.

1. Tyler's Rational Model

   • Focuses on four fundamental questions: What educational purposes should the school seek to attain? What educational experiences can be provided? How can these experiences be organized? How can we determine whether these purposes are being attained?
   • Emphasizes a systematic approach to curriculum development, ensuring alignment between goals, experiences, and evaluation.
   • Advocates for clear objectives that guide the selection of content and teaching methods.

2. Taba's Grassroots Model

   • Encourages curriculum development to start with teachers, promoting a bottom-up approach rather than a top-down directive.
   • Involves a seven-step process: diagnosis of needs, formulation of objectives, selection of content, organization of content, selection of learning experiences, organization of learning experiences, and evaluation.
   • Emphasizes the importance of teacher input and collaboration in creating relevant and effective curricula.

3. Saylor, Alexander, and Lewis Model

   • Proposes a comprehensive framework that includes planning, implementation, and evaluation phases in curriculum development.
   • Highlights the importance of aligning curriculum with societal needs and student interests.
   • Stresses the role of continuous feedback and revision in the curriculum process.

4. Oliva's Model

   • Focuses on the dynamic nature of curriculum development, viewing it as an ongoing process rather than a fixed product.
   • Emphasizes the importance of context, including cultural and social factors, in shaping curriculum decisions.
   • Encourages collaboration among educators, administrators, and the community in the curriculum development process.

5. Backward Design Model

   • Starts with the end in mind by identifying desired learning outcomes before planning instructional activities.
   • Encourages educators to design assessments that measure student understanding and mastery of the objectives.
   • Promotes a focus on deep understanding and transfer of knowledge rather than rote memorization.

6. Walker’s Deliberative Approach

   • Emphasizes the importance of dialogue and reflection among stakeholders in the curriculum development process.
   • Advocates for a flexible and responsive approach that considers diverse perspectives and contexts.
   • Encourages educators to engage in critical thinking and ethical considerations when making curriculum decisions.

7. Freire's Critical Pedagogy Model

   • Focuses on empowering students to question and challenge societal norms and injustices through education.
   • Advocates for a dialogical approach where teachers and students learn from each other.
   • Emphasizes the importance of critical consciousness and social change as central goals of education.

8. Bruner's Spiral Curriculum

   • Proposes that complex ideas should be revisited over time, allowing students to build on their prior knowledge.
   • Encourages the integration of different subjects and disciplines to create a more cohesive learning experience.
   • Emphasizes the importance of discovery learning, where students actively engage in the learning process.

9. Eisner's Artistic Approach

   • Views curriculum development as an art form, emphasizing creativity and the subjective nature of teaching and learning.
   • Advocates for multiple forms of assessment that capture the richness of student learning experiences.
   • Encourages educators to consider aesthetic dimensions of education, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and humanities.

10. Wiggins and McTighe's Understanding by Design (UbD)

    • Focuses on designing curriculum with the end goals of understanding and transfer in mind.
    • Encourages educators to create "essential questions" that drive inquiry and deeper learning.
    • Stresses the importance of aligning assessments with learning goals to ensure that students achieve meaningful understanding.