Phases of Curriculum Development | Mary Joie Padron

Curriculum development systematically organizes three crucial aspects: what will be taught (subject matter, content), who will be taught (student characteristics, learning styles, maturity level), and how it will be taught (strategies, methods). These components are interconnected and influence each other significantly.

Curriculum planning is the foundational phase. It begins by identifying issues, problems, or needs that the curriculum aims to address. This involves exploring relevant questions, defining the core problem, and developing a clear statement to guide subsequent steps and potential strategies.

After identifying the problem, curriculum designing involves stating intended learning outcomes or educational objectives. These outcomes define what learners should be able to do. The next step is selecting content that is relevant, impactful, and appropriately scoped and sequenced. Finally, designing experiential methods considers learning styles, activities, worksheets, and the learning environment to facilitate effective teaching.

Curriculum implementation is putting the designed plan into action within the classroom or learning environment. The curriculum serves as a guide for teachers and students, ensuring that planned objectives are translated into actual classroom discussions and activities, making learning an active process.

The final phase is curriculum evaluation, which assesses whether learning outcomes have been achieved. This involves using formative assessments to track progress and summative assessments to measure mastery. Evaluation is crucial for identifying strengths and weaknesses, allowing for necessary adjustments and improvements in future curriculum iterations.

These phases can be contextualized in daily teaching. A learning plan starts with clear learning outcomes, followed by topic selection and teaching procedures. Evaluative tools are then used to assess student understanding, leading to remedial instruction for those struggling or enhancement programs for those who have mastered the content.