The organization and implementation of academic curricula go a long way in determining the impact a school or educational institution has on the pupils and students who occupy it. In the U.
S. , the types of curricula taught in schools have become quite varied, leading to the differentiation of several standard models that are used to develop student knowledge and skills. These five main models of curricula are the traditional, developmental, experiential, basic, and explicit instruction models.
To understand how schools implement these models and the effects they have on students, it is necessary to ask and answer various questions. Here are 15 questions and answers that elucidate the five curriculum models:
1. What Do Curriculum Models Have to Do With Students?
In order to truly understand the importance of curriculum models, it is paramount to first understand what constitutes a curriculum. At its most basic level, a curriculum is an integrated framework of educational material that is created and organized to meet the identified needs of a particular group of pupils or students. In other words, it is the method used to ensure that the educational goals of a school, institution, or educational program are reached.
The basic curriculum models provide the foundation for the material being taught and help educators to select and integrate the activities, methods, and materials used to meet the specific educational objectives.
2. What Is the Traditional Curriculum Model?
The traditional curriculum model is a system of academic education that relies on text-based knowledge, lectures and exams. This type of model is a highly traditional approach to teaching that has been used for centuries.
It is organized around the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum and relies heavily on memorization, study and rote learning. The focus is primarily on core academic subjects, such as math and language, and the amount of structure provided to the classroom is usually quite high.
3. What Is the Developmental Curriculum Model?
The developmental curriculum model is a type of educational system that focuses on personal and social development. This model implements teaching strategies that are designed to ensure that the learning process is tailored to the individual’s personal needs and learning characteristics. It progresses in stages over a period of time and moves at a pace that is in line with the student’s capacity to absorb, understand and integrate new information.
This model places an emphasis on competence-based tasks, such as job performance and interpersonal development, and seeks to present information in a way that stimulates personal and social responsibility.
4. What Is the Experiential Curriculum Model?
The experiential curriculum model is centered on providing real-world, hands-on learning experiences. It encourages learning through active participation and exploration of the topics being taught. This type of curriculum allows students to take a more active role in their learning, encourages problem-solving, decision-making and critical thinking skills, and uses tangible materials and physical activities to facilitate learning.
It utilizes experimental learning techniques to address the students’ individual needs and incorporate diverse instructional techniques that keep students engaged and energized.
5. What Is the Basic – or Common Core – Curriculum Model?
The basic – or common core – curriculum model follows a set of guidelines and protocols from an individual state or school district. This type of model focuses on the specific core competencies that are deemed necessary for all students to develop. Core competencies can include skills such as literacy, numeracy, writing, and problem-solving.
Schools and program leaders select the content that is taught and the learning activities that are required. This type of curriculum is usually taught in the context of a traditional learning system with the curriculum divided into subject areas.
6. What Is the Explicit Instruction Curriculum Model?
The explicit instruction curriculum model is an evidence-based approach to teaching which emphasizes well-defined instructional objectives, guided instruction, clear models and guidelines, and formative assessment. It is an instructional process that seeks to provide explicit instructions to students so that they can acquire knowledge, skills and strategies in a systematic, consistent and structured way.
This type of model follows a particular sequence in order to ensure that individual learning needs are met and that instructional goals are met. Explicit instruction is especially useful for students who are struggling with academic concepts or those students who require intensive instruction.
7. How Are the Different Curriculum Models Organized?
The five main curriculum models are organized according to their main education goals and the methods used to achieve those goals. The traditional model follows a highly structured approach and its primary goals are to foster academic excellence and to teach foundational curricula such as language, math, social studies and science. The developmental model focuses on individual and social growth and seeks to foster personal and social responsibility.
It is organized around certain core competencies and employs teaching strategies that are tailored to the individual’s needs. The experiential model encourages real-world learning experiences and emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
It utilizes tangible materials and physical activities to facilitate learning. The basic – or common core – model follows a set of guidelines and protocols from an individual state or school district. This type of model focuses on the specific or core competencies that are deemed necessary for all students to develop.
The explicit instruction model places an emphasis on well-defined instructional objectives, clear models and guidelines, and structured instruction. It is especially useful for students who require intensive instruction.
8. What Are the Benefits of the Different Curriculum Models?
The traditional curriculum model builds academic skills and provides a solid foundation of knowledge to students. It teaches the concepts and information that is generally necessary for students to master a particular subject or skill.
This type of model also gives teachers a measure of control over the teaching process, while guiding the students towards the educational goals of the school. The developmental curriculum model is beneficial to both the teacher and student. By tailoring the learning process to the individual’s needs, the teacher is able to meet the student’s personal goals more effectively.
This type of model also leads to improved social development, as valuable interpersonal skills are acquired by the student. The experiential curriculum model is great for getting students engaged and interested in the topics being taught.
It draws on the student’s prior knowledge and encourages exploration and problem-solving, allowing for a more meaningful learning experience. The basic – or common core – curriculum model is useful for providing students with the foundational skills and subjects necessary for them to develop. This type of model also ensures a consistent education experience for all students within a particular district or state.
Finally, the explicit instruction model is beneficial for students who need intensive instruction and guidance. By providing explicit instructions, teachers are able to ensure that the students are better able to understand the materials being presented and are better equipped to achieve the academic objectives associated with the curriculum.
9. Are the Different Curriculum Models Compatible With Each Other?
Yes. All of the different curriculum models are compatible with each other and can be used in combination to create an effective and comprehensive educational program.
For example, an educational institution may decide to integrate elements of the traditional, developmental and experiential models into their curriculum. In this case, the traditional model could be used to provide the overall structure and scaffolding for the learning process, and the developmental and experiential models could then be used to tailor the learning process to the individual student’s needs and preferences.
10. What Are the Drawbacks of the Different Curriculum Models?
The drawbacks associated with the different curriculum models can vary depending on the specific model being implemented. The traditional curriculum model has been criticized for its inflexibility and its reliance on memorization and rote learning.
It has been argued that this type of model limits the student’s ability to gain critical thinking and analytical skills. The developmental curriculum model, while beneficial in terms of fostering personal and social responsibility, has been criticized for its lack of structure and its focus on emotional intelligence and non-academic pursuits. The experiential curriculum model has been criticized for its reliance on hands-on, physical activities which can be difficult to incorporate into the educational environment.
Furthermore, there is the risk that, without proper instruction and guidance, the students may not gain the knowledge and skills required to meet the educational objectives being taught. The basic – or common core – curriculum model has been criticized for its lack of flexibility, as it requires that all students within a particular district or state follow the same curriculum guidelines.
Finally, the explicit instruction model has been criticized for its rigid approach to teaching and its inability to adapt to the individual student’s learning capacity.
11. What Are the Different Approaches to Teaching the Different Curriculum Models?
The different approaches to teaching the different curriculum models can vary depending on the specific model being implemented. For example, the traditional model relies on more structured teaching methods, such as lectures and exams, while the developmental model employs more tailored teaching strategies such as problem-based learning, individualized instruction and project-based learning. The experiential model utilizes various active learning strategies, while the basic – or common core – model relies on the teaching methods that have been chosen or established by the particular state or school district.
The explicit instruction model emphasizes the use of clear models and guidelines and seeks to provide explicit instructions to the students.
12. How Do School Leaders Decide Which Curriculum Model to Follow?
School leaders often make the decision by considering the educational goals of their school, institution or program. They must also consider the demographics of their student population and the resources or materials available to them in order to determine which model to follow. Furthermore, school leaders may decide to incorporate elements from multiple curriculum models in order to best meet the needs of their students.
13. What Types of Resources Might Be Available to Educators When Implementing the Different Curriculum Models?
Educators may have access to a variety of resources when implementing the various curriculum models. These resources include textbooks, blogs, podcasts, videos, and webinars. Educators may also have access to educational organizations or associations, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), that offer professional development programs and workshops.
14. How Can Technology Be Used to Support the Different Curriculum Models?
Technology can be a valuable tool for educators when implementing different curriculum models. Technology can be used to enhance the traditional model by providing students with digital textbooks and lectures, or by using tools such as PowerPoint and Prezi to deliver content.
Technology can also be used to enhance the developmental and experiential models by providing students with online tools for communication, collaboration and exploration. In the case of the basic – or common core – model, technology can be integrated into the instructional methods chosen by the school or district. Finally, technology can be used to support the explicit instruction model by providing teachers with abundant examples, templates, explanations and visual aids.
15. How Can School Leaders Assess the Impact of the Different Curriculum Models?
School leaders can assess the impact of the different curriculum models by evaluating the performance of their students and gathering feedback from teachers and parents. Leaders can compare the academic performance of students across the different models and assess the overall satisfaction with the educational program within their school or institution.
Furthermore, school leaders can use assessment tools such as surveys, interviews, and surveys to determine the extent to which the curriculum is meeting the standards and educational goals of the school.
Conclusion
The five main curriculum models – traditional, developmental, experiential, basic, and explicit instruction – all have unique advantages and drawbacks that should be considered when selecting and implementing a model for a particular school or educational program. School leaders are responsible for determining the most appropriate curriculum model for their students and must choose the model that best meets the identified needs of the school or school district. With appropriate resources and technological support, any of these models can be successfully implemented and assessed.