Curriculum Implementation Handouts
Curriculum Implementation Handouts
Curriculum Implementation Handouts
Topic Objectives:
At the end of the discussion of the assigned topic, the EdD students will be able to:
Discussion Outline:
Curriculum Implementation
Approaches on Curriculum Implementation
Implementation Models
Factors that influence Curriculum Implementation
IMPLEMENTATION MODELS
According to ORNSTEIN AND HUNKINS (1998)- describe several changes in models that are
worthwhile exploring.
According to Harris (1985)- for the successful implementation of changes in the school system:
1. Clarification of lines of authority
2. Involvement of affected parties in goal setting, staff selection, and evaluation
3. Specification of roles and responsibilities of the teachers
4. Training of personnel in change strategies and conflict- resolution techniques
5. Support to affected parties
The Teacher
As Whitaker (1979) asserts that the teachers view their role in curriculum implementation as an
autonomous one. They select and decide what to teach from the prescribed syllabus or curriculum.
Since implementation takes place through the interaction of the learner and the planned learning
opportunities, the role and influence of the teacher in the process is indisputable. You could be
thinking, “I understand that teachers are pivotal in the curriculum implementation process, but
what is their role in the curriculum planning process?” If the teacher is to be able to translate
curriculum intentions into reality, it is imperative that the teacher understand the curriculum
document or syllabus well in order to implement it effectively. If the curriculum is what teachers
and students create together, as Wolfson (1997) states in Curriculum Implementations, the teacher
must play a more significant role in designing the curriculum. Teachers must be involved in
curriculum planning and development so that they can implement and modify the curriculum for
the benefit of their learners.
The Learners
Learners are also a critical element in curriculum implementation. While teachers are the arbiters
of the classroom practice, the learners hold the key to what is actually transmitted and adopted
from the official curriculum. The official curriculum can be quite different from the curriculum that
is actually implemented. The learner factor influences teachers in their selection of learning
experiences, hence the need to consider the diverse characteristics of learners in curriculum
implementation. For example, home background and learner ability can determine what is actually
achieved in the classroom.
From your experience, you are aware that no meaningful teaching and learning take place without
adequate resource materials. This applies to curriculum implementation as well. For the officially
designed curriculum to be fully implemented as per plan, the government or Ministry of Education
should supply schools with adequate resource materials such as textbooks, teaching aids and
7
stationery in order to enable teachers and learners to play their role satisfactorily in the
curriculum implementation process. In Curriculum Implementation, it is suggested that the
central government must also provide physical facilities such as classrooms, laboratories,
workshops, libraries and sports fields in order to create an environment in which implementation
can take place. The availability and quality of resource material and the availability of appropriate
facilities have a great influence on curriculum implementation.
Interest Groups
Can you identify interest groups in your country that could influence the implementation of
curricula? A number of these groups exist in almost all societies. These include parents, parents’
and teachers’ associations, religious organizations, local authorities, companies and private school
proprietors. These Groups can influence implementation in the following ways:
One other factor that influences curriculum implementation concerns the particular circumstances
of each school. Schools located in rich socio-economic environments and those that have adequate
human and material resources can implement the curriculum to an extent that would be difficult
or impossible for schools in poor economic environments.
Cultural and ideological differences within a society or country can also influence curriculum
implementation. Some communities may resist a domineering culture or government ideology and
hence affect the implementation of the centrally planned curriculum.
Instructional Supervision
Curriculum implementation cannot be achieved unless it has been made possible through the
supervisory function of the school head. The head does this through:
deploying staff
allocating time to subjects taught at the school
providing teaching and learning materials
creating an atmosphere conducive to effective teaching and learning.
Assessment