In this paper, I will present an analysis of my group's process of creating and implementing a long-term curriculum plan for the course "Designs for Learning III." Specifically, this paper will address the following components:
Implementation of the curriculum plan;
Suggestions for modifications of the curriculum plan; and
In an effort to create an interesting and unique curriculum plan, the group, as a whole, decided to integrate music -- a rarely-taught subject in schools -- with math, science and technology. Before embarking on this process, we conducted research on curriculum planning and implementation in order to learn more about the process. This research helped us to realize that the formulation of a plan should take into account the end results of the unit - a strategic approach known as backward design.
Using the methods of backward method, we sought to determine identify the desired outcomes for this unit. Essentially, each member of the group talked about their vision - what they would like their students to acquire by the end of the unit. One of the short-term desired outcomes was to provide students with an incentive to learn something educational, which was fun, interesting and new at the same time. The students' experience with the unit should motivate them to explore other opportunities in music such as taking music lessons as an extra-curricular activity. In the long term, some of the students may even be inspired to become musicians.
Based on our vision of these desired outcomes, we decided that the objective of this unit should be to help students learn how to create their own instrument by applying their knowledge of sound. Therefore, we selected the topic of sound for this curriculum plan. The concept of sound can be taught in many different ways. As a group, we could have easily planned a long-term unit plan that consisted of disparate topics such as different instruments and their u...