After our last series of presentations yesterday, it is time to put some reflections down about this course and what has come out of it for me. Curriculum studies is such a broad area of study, and as our professor put it, we all have our areas in the forest that we explore. What I have found in the past several weeks is a map of some areas of the forest, an itinerary of sorts, leading me to areas I can visit to support other learning I gain in education, or wish to explore for their own sake. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to expand my interests and have a guide through the areas I had not yet discovered.
It’s funny that Curriculum Theory forms such an essential basis of what we do, but is talked about so little in schools. I wonder what would happen if teachers broke through all of the extended theory and initiatives to talk about foundational instructional beliefs. There is a simplicity borne out of theory once it has been analyzed that could really simplify many discussions between peers. Yet, getting to the point of discussion would require many teachers to leave behind some of their essential and long-held beliefs about the nature of education. One of the most powerful moments I experienced in the last three weeks was having Dr. William Popham explain how his beliefs have changed since his initial work with behavioral objectives. To know that published theorists can have the moral acumen to realize and change their beliefs for the good of education gives me hope that teachers who have much less riding on their paradigms might do the same.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the posts in the last few weeks and that I’ve passed on some of the value I have found in this course. I wish to offer a profound thank you to our professor Dr. Robin Bright who really guided us in theoretically relevant and authentic ways through the forest of curriculum studies. I hope to be your student again!
Thanks for reading, and have a great day!
