Month: September 2019

For Assignment one I have chosen the topic of Hidden Curriculum, I picked this topic because it is one that I am really interested in because children can pick up so much without adults even realizing. The hidden curriculum is something that can change so often, I think it has a very powerful influence on students. I have one article that I have chosen to use as a source in my essay. The article is called “Tracing and countering the hidden” talks about the hidden expectations within a classroom, the things that are not written on a piece of paper but children are still required to do it. 

This article also goes on to say that is society that also sets the hidden curriculum, with the values of people and what is acceptable. This article stated that there are four, important layers of curriculum, and they are different for countries and locations, with society’s values changing from place to place. This article also shows how important it is to look beyond the obvious and do a deep analysis of the many hidden layers that shape our curriculum, and that it is more than meets the eye. It also says we need to dig deeper so that we can better educate students.

I have not decided whether or not to continue with this idea, because there are so many different possibilities to choose from and I have struggled to find another article to go along with the one that I have already picked out. If I do continue with this idea I would dig deeper into the meaning of what defines the hidden curriculum and what it looks like here in Saskatchewan. I also want to see how it can change from teacher to teacher because everyone sees the hidden curriculum differently.

1. Curriculum as a Syllabus to be Transmitted – This is the outline of what students should be learning in the classroom and it is provided by the government. The article states this would usually be transferred to the student teaching right out of a textbook. This is a very structured way of learning, it follows a logical order and it is beneficial to many students as long as they have no missed learning something in the past. This also means this may be easier for a teacher to teach this way with everything just coming straight out of a book. This curriculum does not work for all students, some need extras, and not all students function at the same rate, and understand things at their own pace.
2. Curriculum as a Product – The article states that this is the way of learning “Objectives are set, a plan drawn up, then applied, and the outcomes” (Outcome = Projects) this has both benefits and drawbacks. There is not a lot of room for movement within the classroom and the learning experience, especially for children in the classroom that may struggle with concepts or who cannot keep up with other students within the classroom. This is not the most flexible way of teaching in the classroom, and even though there are many benefits to teaching this way, it seems to be something that teachers are starting to move away from. 
3. Curriculum as Process – In this model the attention moves from teaching to learning, this is very helpful to children as are learning new things. “Curriculum is not just a physical thing, but rather the interaction of teachers, students and knowledge.” this shows use that curriculum can be more than just laid out objectives it is also the actual learning that happens in the classroom along with how to prepare and evaluate. This Model shows it an active process where teachers and students can improve together. This model is beneficial to both teachers and students, and students will get a more round education. A drawback of teaching this way would be that there might not be a lot of structure for some students who may need it, and it would be hard for teachers to adapt and change every singe lesson they teach in school.
4. . Curriculum as Praxis – This shows the constant evolution of teaching, it is develops through interaction and reflection, and it is a more informed way of teaching. this way of teaching allows for there to be change to help both teachers and students, follow and work in unison to from a better way of educating students. The drawbacks would be that this is extremely hard if you did not have students ready to engage in the subject matter, and to participate with in school.

In the small town where I grew up most of my teachers taught with the first two methods with all classes being structured and already laid out when the students came in the room. We knew what we were going to learn and their was only the teachers way of seeing and doing the questions, there was also very limited thinking outside the box.

This article is very interesting, it provided a different way of looking at common sense. Common sense is that knowledge that everyone seems to have, it is the things that you do not have to even think about before you do because they just make sense. The article explains that common sense means something different depending on your environment, and culture. This teacher’s experience in a country that was foreign to them, and the difference between the education system they grew up in and the system they was now a part of. In the article Kumashiro states “Common Sense limits what is considered to be consistent with the purposes of schooling” they interfere with what is sometimes best for students.

It is challenging to recognize the commonsensical because teacher is told what to teach and what not to teach in a curriculum. (we are told that is what students should be learning the important information. It is hard to refuse these ideas of common sense because it is what our whole world is based around. Anti-oppressive education is very important to help students and not have different thing interfere with in the education. It is very important to see common sense so that we can rise above it, not try to let it change the way teach. Teaching is not just about meeting the outcomes set by the government, it is about helping a student reach their full potential.