Unit IV-UNDERSTANDING DISCIPLINES AND SUBJECTS -
SCHOOL SUBJECTS: PATTERNS OF CHANGE-Part 1- BEd notes
Prepared by
Sabarish P
Contents
- Curriculum change as socio- political process.
- Inclusion of work related subject areas.
- Inter disciplinary approach
Curriculum change as socio-political process
The social and the political factors mainly stem out of the ideologies of the people who are also the stakeholders of the educational institutions. The role of stakeholders in curriculum implementation is therefore effected in the social and political circles.
Interests of the stakeholders vary in degree and complexity as they get involved in many ways in the implementation, because the curriculum affects them directly or indirectly.
People involved in the shaping of curriculum
The learners are the very reason a curriculum is developed as they are the ones who are directly influenced by it.
Teachers act as curriculum developers and implementers, as planning and writing the curriculum are the primary roles of the teacher.
In school organisation, a curriculum manager or school administrator supervise curriculum implementation, select and recruit new teachers, admit students, procure equipment and materials needed for effective learning.
Effective parental involvement in school affairs may be linked to parent educational programs which is central to high quality educational experiences of the children.
Community members may be included in school boards to implement the curriculum.
Professional organisations are being asked by curriculum specialists to contribute in curriculum review as they have a voice in licensure examinations, curriculum enhancement and many more.
Role of government
Since all schools are under the regulation of the national government, the government has a great stake in curriculum implementation. The government agencies have mandatory and regulatory powers over the implementation of any curricula.
Role of technology
The role of technology finds its place at the stage of instructional planning, where each lesson should have an idea of general specific goals, instructional objectives, content, activities, media, materials, assessment and evaluation on how objectives have been achieved.
It can easily observed that technological innovation in the multifarious fields of commerce, science and education is fast developing.
The technology boost the educational paradigm shifts that give importance to student-centered and holistic learning.
Constant monitoring
Modification and revisions are inherent characteristics of a curriculum. As the curriculum is being implemented, there is a need to continuously monitor the process.
School-based evaluation is an approach to curriculum evaluation.
Accreditation
Accreditation is a voluntary process of submitting a curricular program to an external accrediting body for review in the level of education to assure standard. Accreditation studies the statement of the educational intentions of the school and affirms a standard of excellence.
Inclusion of work related subject areas
Education System
Elementary education is the foundation of the entire structure of building a nation. The quality of primary education determines the quality of life of nations.
Primary education plays a pivotal role for mass literacy and provides a solid foundation for higher education.
Therefore it becomes an obligatory duty and bounded responsibility of the government of welfare states to make education available to every child.
Curriculum
Curriculum is an integral part of the school education system. It facilitates the teacher to transfer his thoughts to the students.
Primary school being the first formal stage of education naturally requires a well-organised curriculum.
Curriculum is a key element in the educational process, its shape is extremely broad, and it touches virtually everyone who is involved with teaching and learning.
A curriculum need to be flexible enough to meet the needs of the variety of the students. All categories of learners need exposure to a wide array of curricular options.
Progress of the education system
At the time of independence in 1947, India inherited an educational system which was not only quantitatively small but also characterised by striking regional and structural imbalances.
Only 14% of the population was literate and only one child out of three had been enrolled in primary schools. The low level of enrolment and literacy were compounded by acute regional and gender disparities.
Recognising that education was vitally linked with the totality of the development process, the reform and restructuring of the education system was accepted as an important area of state intervention.
Accordingly the need for a literate population and universal primary education for all children in the age group of 6-14 years was provided with a precisely defined and delineated framework in the Indian constitution.
Importance of primary education
Primary education is considered a strong pillar of democracy not only because all citizens will have equal opportunities for harmonious development of their personalities, but also because they will become creative, efficient and productive members of a democratic society.
Taking into consideration the future of our society, the philosophy and sociology of primary education must clearly project the rural and urban disparities, national and regional integration, industrial and agricultural values of life, population explosion and so on.
The skills and objectives chosen for the student community should reflect their goal of becoming as independent as possible both in existing and future living environments.
Inter disciplinary approach, inclusion of near subject areas such as Sex education, Horticulture, Hospitality, Life Skills, Health care.
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic disciplines into one activity, for example, a research project. It is about creating something new by crossing boundaries, and thinking across them.
Interdisciplinary field is an organisational unit that crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions emerge.
The term interdisciplinary is applied within education and training pedagogies to describe studies that use methods and insights of several established disciplines or traditional fields of study.
Interdisciplinarity involves researchers, students, and teachers in the goals of connecting and integrating several academic schools of thought, professions, or technologies, with specific perspectives, in pursuit of a common task.
Interdisciplinary may be applied where the subject is felt to have been neglected or even misrepresented in the traditional disciplinary structure of research institutions.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Today’s schools are generally specialised in content and delivery. Specialisation breaks the world into pieces suitable for easy sharing with students.
The historical use of textbooks also contributed to breaking the world into school subjects for easy study.
Progressive educators believed a new educational philosophy could be created that was not based upon memorising right facts, but rather focused on developing cooperative social skills, critical thinking and democratic behaviour.
The positive educational outcomes resulted in increased understanding, retention and application of general concepts, better overall comprehension of global interdependencies, along with the development of perspectives and values.
Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary studies enhance student learning. Such enhancements for student learning seem even more crucial in today’s world.
Subjects are best taught in interdisciplinary ways because building expansive narratives helps students conceptualize objects.
Integrated Interdisciplinary Approach
An integrated interdisciplinary approach enables students to see all subjects as part of their lives, rather than as separate disciplines.
Qualitative and quantitative studies suggest the different ways of organising the curriculum and increase student learning.
Interdisciplinary Approach to Education
The interdisciplinary teaching methodology requires planning that considers the foundational objectives of unique curriculum areas. Connecting curriculum in this manner is a great way to help teachers share knowledge that grows at every level.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, students can make connections between disciplines and see the correlations, which improves overall learning. As a result, students receive a more relevant, timely, less fragmented, and enriching learning experience.
Problems of interdisciplinary education
There is no general structure in interdisciplinary work. Curriculum developers themselves must design a content scope and sequence for any interdisciplinary unit or course.
The curriculum design suffer from a lack of clarity, creating tension among teachers. Some feel highly territorial about their subjects and are threatened as new views of their subject are promoted.
Solutions to the problems of interdisciplinary education
Effective interdisciplinary programmes must have carefully conceived design features: a scope and sequence, a cognitive taxonomy to encourage thinking skills, behavioural indicators of attitudinal change, and a solid evaluation scheme.
Both discipline-field-based and interdisciplinary experiences for students in the curriculum must be used.
Prepared by
Sabarish P
