Curriculum Issues and Trends Chapter 12

1. Curriculum Issues and Trends Chapter 12 Jill Rotunno EDU 705

2. What dangers lie in thinking that educators may someday really reinvent the school and its curriculum? Educators need to think about curriculum instead of more effective ways to manage schools. Allow students to have a voice in the curriculum they are studying. Arrange contacts for students outside of school to make connections. Teachers need to furnish students with choices.

3. What are some ways to engage students in meaningful interactions with adults?

4. What benefits might be attained in reconceptualizing the school as a “fun house”? If schools were treated like an arcade: Students are not forced to enter. There would be no attendance. Students select the experience and there is a variety to select from. Playing the game is the purpose; the content is secondary. Games appear to be challenging. Students are not discouraged by defeat. Their scores provide inspiration not discouragement. Students want to be challenged. Failure is an instructive event.

5. What is the major rationale behind the charter school movement? Charter schools should function according to market principles. Charter schools receive public monies. Differences: School decides how money is spent. Control whom to hire. What administrators should they have. What educational materials should be purchased. What curricular to offer. Receive some exemptions from the state, like how to organize the school day.

6. Why are educators showing increased concern for creating curricula that address spirituality?

7. What are the major conceptual approaches for teaching morals to students?

8. Why is moral education such a challenging issue for educators?

9. Why is multicultural education such a challenging issue for educators?

10. What reasons explain the increase in political action regarding educational decision making? Power talk – Use power over others to get power over others. All people must be brought into the social equations. The belief of the individuals. The value of each person. If the needs of the individual are met, society will benefit. The belief of group/community. The value of the group. If the group works for the benefit of others, these members of the group will be granted rights and privileges.

11. What are some arguments in favor of higher educational standards? What are some arguments against the striving for higher educational standards? In Favor of Higher Standards Against Higher Standards

12. What are potential benefits of using more technology in the school curriculum? What are potential liabilities of using more technology in the school curriculum? • Benefits • Able to access a tremendous amount of information. • Customize learning styles, cultural backgrounds, educational interests, and academic goals. • Potential to have 25 curricula for 25 students. • Liabilities • Students must have strategies to make sense of construct meaning. • Do not become so enamored with the machine that the child is forgotten. • Interactive program should be challenging, not just entertaining. • Human to human interface – someone has programmed and organized the information to influence how one will react to and process the information.