Discussion 1
To get started in our task to understand and implement curriculum, you must first look at the various types of curriculum. There is no one standard set curriculum. For this Discussion, choose one of the following terms below. Respond to the thread and indicate which term you have chosen, then research the term. You cannot choose a term someone else has already posted on unless all terms have been taken. Use the Kaplan Library and/or other sources to research the term. Once you have a solid understanding of the term, come back here and post a summary. The summary should be between 200-300 words (at least half a page in Microsoft Word).
Problem-based learning
Service Learning
Experiential Learning
Learning Communities
Outcomes-based degrees
Open courses
Subject-Centered curriculum
Learner-Centered curriculum
Problem-centered curriculum
Process-centered curriculum
Product-centered curriculum
The written curriculum
The societal curriculum
The hidden curriculum
The null curriculum
After you have posted your curriculum, chose two other curricula that your classmates have posted, and compare and contrast those curricula with your own. As you read their posts, think about not only traditional classrooms, but blended and online learning as well.
1. Can any of these types of curriculum be offered in an online or blended environment?
2. Are any of them fundamentally in conflict with online learning?
Discussion 2
Planning your Program
Scenario
You are the chair of an academic department of your choice at a two- or four-year institution. As chair, you will design a new program of study for your institution that will be presented to your departmental faculty for consideration. You will complete components of the project throughout the course.
In this first Assignment, you will choose the program you will develop for your Final Project. Choosing a program to develop is a critical step in the development of curriculum. There are many needs that must be considered:
• The needs of the institution.
• The needs of the students.
• The needs of the community.
• The needs of the economy.
• The needs of location.
Since there are a variety of types of institutions of higher education in the United States, the mission of each of these is unique. The missions depend on many factors. Ultimately, the program needs to fit into the mission of the institution. For example, if the institution is a two-year community college located in a rural Northwest community, creating a bachelor's of Philosophy would not fit well into the mission. One could look at an AA in Philosophy, but then the needs of the student and the community factor in. For example, if a student earned his/her AA in Philosophy, would he/she need to move or obtain more education in order to get a job? Most likely. Since community colleges support the labor force of the area, this program is not a good fit. A better fit might be an autotech program or a culinary program.
Review the HE523 Unit 1 Presentation for information on types of degrees and credit hours.
Another example that would not be a good fit would be an agricultural program in a four-year liberal arts college in the heart of New York City.
In terms of the economy and community, if you were to create nursing program at a community college, how long would it be until the area was saturated with nurses and your students could no longer get jobs?
When choosing your program, but sure to think it through and assume all programs fit at all institutions.
As a leader in higher education, you need to be knowledgeable about accrediting bodies, professional and occupational associations, and standards and the impact they have on curriculum. Professional schools and programs within a college or university have their own standards and required competencies that are mandated by the profession.
For this Assignment, you will fabricate an institution. You may base this fictional institution on an existing one, but your work must be original, meaning, you cannot simply copy/paste a mission statement of another institution.