CURRICULUM and TEACHING
∗About Curriculum in general ∗Curriculum system in Finland ∗Combining Curriculum and teaching
What comes into your mind when you hear the word ”curriculum”? ∗ Feel very free!
∗ Padlet address: http://padlet.com/wall/9c94u4cb5n / Minna http://padlet.com/wall/ves0b7czj5 / Päivi
About Curriculum in General
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The curriculum tells the teachers what should be taught to students
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“The curriculum has an integral role in generating the intended outcomes, contents and pedagogic frameworks in teaching.” Vitikka, Salminen & Annevirta 2012
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“ Curriculum is the experience of learning something you didn´t know before. Engaging learners in exploration of something that matters to them” Stephen Murgatroyd, Curriculum Symposium in Edmonton. November 4-5 2011
Homework: What about the video you watched?
∗ What kind of ideas did you get from video? ∗ How did you find the speakers´ ideas about curriculum nowadays?
Different Aspects behind Curriculum
∗ Bigger framework behind curriculum work: Social norms, values, power, politics etc.
∗ Different curricula: Written, implemented, experienced, hidden curriculum
∗ Different focuses behind the curriculum: teaching vs. learning vs. substance vs. process vs. product etc.
Curriculum Work in Finland
∗ Finland has a national core curriculum ∗ Participants in the curriculum process − The Finnish National Board of Education (NBOE) − The Government − Local authorities − School + School teachers
Parts of the curriculum ∗ Objectives ∗ Courses (material, content etc.) ∗ Teaching methods ∗ Evaluation (basics and methods) ∗ Description of the teaching personnel ∗ Description of the teaching resources ∗ Description of the teaching and learning environments ∗ Description of the learning material (text / schoolbooks) ∗ Legislation
Examples of local curriculum ∗ Russian language in Eastern Finland instead of swedish language: http://yle.fi/uutiset/pm_backs_russian_over_swedish_in_eastern_schools/5635958
∗ Optional Swedish would widen the social divide http://yle.fi/uutiset/lipponen_optional_swedish_would_widen_the_social_divide/6 849275
Some questions about curriculum in Finland ∗ How much influence can a teacher have on curriculum? ∗ How much variation should there be between regions? ∗ Do you basically like/dislike the idea of variety in the curriculum?
Curriculum and Teaching ∗ A teacher needs to have capabilities to adapt and use a curriculum and also to participate in making it. ∗ The main task of the teacher training is to teach how to use, apply and develop the curriculum. ∗ The teachers need a clear knowledge of how the teaching methods should be planned and developed so that the students learning would be forwarded towards the aims of the curriculum. ∗ Teachers´ possibilities to influence the curriculum in practice is a sign of teacher´s autonomity and gives appreaciation for their independent pedagogical skills.
Combining Curriculum and Teaching ∗ Have you had a curriculum to work with? ∗ What are the benefits of having a curriculum? ∗ What are the key challenges? How are those challenges overcome?
Different Approaches of Curriculum for Teachers Curriculum as Coach´s Tactic Plan Teaching is a game. Teacher is the coach. Learners are the players. Planned activities but also improvisation used.
Curriculum as Building Drawing
Curriculum as Piece of Art
A clear picture of the ready building.
Teaching is creating the piece of art.
Teaching is the process of building the house. Teacher as a construction worker.
Teacher is the artist.
Questions ∗ How do you see the curriculum, teaching, communicating, learning in different metaphors and how they differ from each other? ∗ Mention some good and poor things in curriculum in different metaphors? ∗ Teacher has different roles with the curriculum in these metaphors. Which one do you prefer?
If you have time, please check out this video. ∗ http://www.ncee.org/programs-affiliates/center-oninternational-education-benchmarking/top-performingcountries/finland-overview/finland-instructional-systems/
∗ Can you pick up some things which tell us about the Finnish curriculum?
Sources ∗ Basic Education Act (628/1998) ∗ Basic Education Decree (852/1998) ∗ The Government Decree on the General National Objectives ∗ Darling-Hammond 2009, Steady Work: How Finland Is Building a Strong Teaching and Learning System ∗ Distribution of Lesson Hours in Basic Education (1435/2001) ∗ Jackson 1992, Conceptions of Curriculum and Curriculum Specialists” in Handbook of Research on Curriculum ∗ Lahdes 1986, Peruskoulun Didaktiikka. ∗ Mäkinen, M. & Annala, J. (2010). Meanings behind curriculum development in higher education. ∗ Popkewitz 1997, The production of reason and power, curriculum history and intellectual traditions. Journal of Curriculum Studies 29. ∗ Uusikylä & Atjonen, 2000 . Didaktiikan perusteet. ∗ Vitikka, Salminen & Tiina Annevirta 2012 Opetussuunnitelma opettajankoulutuksessa. ∗ www.oph.fi/english
THANK YOU!