SAN FRASER UNIVERSITY ?

I

Spring Semester 1999

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EDUC 471 -

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Dr. M.Wideen

Curriculum Development: ?

Office: MPX 8672

Theory and Practice ?

Tel: 291-4825

E01.00 ?

E-mail: wideen@sfu.ca

PREREQUISITE

60 credit hours

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will be divided into two main parts. During the first part we will study the most

defensible articulation of traditional curriculum development, using Pratt's book. The main

objective will be to develop an understanding of the interrelations among educational objectives,

students' diverse needs, instructional activities, contexts and resources, and evaluation. In addition

to in-class activities, each student will develop a short curriculum on a topic negotiated with the

instructor.

In the second part of the course we will critique the foundation that underlay traditional

curriculum development. The purpose of this critique is not to out-and-out reject Pratt's model,

but to focus our attention of its internal and external inconsistencies. Based on readings, our

critique will focus on:

1)

the historical basis of traditional notions of curriculum, and their contemporary appropriateness;

2)

the theories of learning that underpin traditional curriculum design;

3)

the social and political forces at play in curriculum development;

4) the dynamics of social class, race, and gender in curriculum;

5)

the problems of curriculum implementation.

REQUIREMENTS

1)

In-class work and participation (20%):

Active engagement is crucial to understanding

throughout this course. Students are expected to not only help their own understanding, but to

assist each other also. Students are expected to have studied the assigned reading prior to class.

With a variety of in-class assignments, we will begin to think through the issues they present.

These activities will include peer critique of curriculum units.

2)

Action research project (40%):

Student will develop a curriculum unit similar to Pratt's

Appendix D, on a topic negotiated with the instructor, comprising between 10 and 20 hours of

instructional time. This project is due at the beginning of the 7th class.

3)

Exit interview (40%):

Students will revise their curriculum unit (if possible) based upon the

critique of the second part of the course. In addition, students will submit a paper explaining their

revisions. This project is due at the beginning of the last class.

REQUIRED READINGS

Pratt, D. (1993). Curriculum Planning: A Handbook for Professionals. Toronto: Harcourt Brace

ISBN 0-15-501098.

Selected readings, available in the Centre for Educational Technology (CET).