Week+2+Discussion+5335

 Tyler and Tada's view on curriculum are by no means outdated. Both offer sound, research-based ideas of curriculum that continue to be a model for curriculum writers today. Tyler believed that the "nature of the learner" should be considered in any type of educational planning. Teachers are expected to diversify lesson plans for all levels of learners. They are expected to make modifications or accommodations for students with special needs as well as extend or challenge gifted students. Students growing up in this technology age process things faster and can multitask; however, the fact that students can process information more quickly, does not mean they gain a deeper understanding of it. Teachers need to evolve in their strategies for teaching these types of students and also create lessons that develop true understanding of concepts. One of the quotes from Simpson's article that really resonated with me was "Today students are more sophisticated socially than those of two or three decades ago; yet in other ways they are less prepared for the rigors of scholarship and deep learning." College educators must be aware of "the social, intellectual, and spiritual maturity of students as appropriate instructional goals are established as expectations." I think the same can be said of public education teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade.   In addition to Tyler, Hilda Tada's contributions to the way curriculum is written is paradigm to follow. The importance of developing multiple objectives is important to "establish a sense of purpose and provide a basis for deciding what to include, exclude, and emphasize." Further, to organize the curriculum into the three main levels of Key Concepts, Organizing Ideas, and Specific Facts gives writers a roadmap to writing effective curriculum. She emphasized that key concepts were to be shown to students over and over again in their education process using different age-appropriate examples and not directly taught. Also, with regard to Organizing Ideas, curriculum writers should use the five criteria of significance, explanatory power, appropriateness, durability, and balance to select appropriate ideas. I also really liked the ideas of using samples of specific facts instead of teachers trying to cover "all the facts"--it's impossible! Although many of Tada's ideas were written over 40 years ago, they are still sound. Curriculum writers in all states should look to her model to help guide efforts not only in social studies, but for other core subjects as well.   Fraenkel, J. R. (1992). Hilda Taba’s contributions to social studies education. //Social Education//, //56(3)//, 172-178., Simpson, R. (1999).   Ralph Tyler on curriculum: A voice from the past with a message for the future. //Innovative Higher Education//, //24(2)//, 85-87. 