Curriculum 21: Doing it Right - Essay Example

Curriculum 21: Doing it Right What do you think is evident in necessary to be included in the current K-12 curriculum? The current K-12 curriculum needs to incorporate ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in the instructional materials. Since the advent of sophisticated technological means, the educators have been trying to modify the instructional process with the help of technology (Jacobs, 2010, p.60). According to Baker, early 1960’s brought with it “new curricula, instructional models, and approaches to individualization” (1978, p.3) of instruction, but the drawback with these instructional schemes was their poor management.

Teachers have already started feeling the necessity of incorporating the internet in their instructional material (Costa & Kallick, 2009, p.211). For example, Yaratan and Kural (2010, p.161) state that foreign-language teaching has seen many rapid changes since the advent of technology because the students can now share a more communicative and collaborative environment in learning instruction. Especially, in foreign-language teaching, the communicative settings were facilitated with translation softwares.

Sir Jim Rose, the government advisor and former chief inspector of schools, has given a review of the primary curriculum in Great Britain. He has focused on curriculum design and content, and has stressed upon the importance of ICT in the primary curriculum. Rose has suggested that it has become crucial to inculcate ICT based learning process in EYFS and primary stage (Rose, n.d.). This will introduce high level of ICT understanding in students when they finish their primary stage. He asserts in his final report that England’s best schools should consider ICT as a priority to enhance a balanced and broad education in math, science and English in particular and all through K-12 curriculum in general.

Rose has emphasized upon young children’s computer literacy about using podcasts, simulations and presentations, with complexity in accordance with EYFS and primary stages. In the K-12 curriculum, ICT can play its role in planning work sequences and learning and teaching procedures. It will help students to enjoy their educational activities because they will be able to relate the technology based learning to their everyday lives. Students will be able to develop their own independent thinking regarding research, analysis of problems and decision-making.

The national curriculum has already put forth such programs of study that use ICT to enable the students to develop self-confidence and think about new ideas. The ICT based study programs in the K-12 curriculum will support safe usage of digital communication technologies. The curriculum will make it possible to use ICT in making the students familiar with the growing utilization of technology. To cut it short, it is evident and necessary to introduce ICT technology and tools in the K-12 curriculum, right from the EYFS stage.

This will facilitate better teaching and learning process, and the tools will benefit both the teachers and the students. Teachers will be able to prepare their teaching material using these tools, and the students will be able to make better research about their subjects.Questions:1. What should be done to increase teacher competency in using ICT tools?2. Should the schools be provided extra funding to incorporate ICT tools?3. How can technology help develop a better understanding of the world?

ReferencesBaker, F.B. (1978). Introduction to CMI. Computer Managed Instruction: Theory and Practice. USA: Educational Technology.Costa, A.L., & Kallick, B. (2009). Habits of Mind Across the Curriculum: Practical and Creative Strategies for Teachers. New York, NY: ASCD. Jacobs, H.H. (2010). Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World. New York, NY: ASCD. Rose, J. (n.d.) Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/http://www.education.gov.

uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/Primary_curriculum_Report.pdfYaratan, H., & Kural, C. (2010). Middle school English language teachers’ perception of instructional technology implementation in North Cyprus. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 9(2), pp. 161-174.