INTRODUCTION
Hi everyone! Welcome to today’s instructional video where we’ll be discussing a really important topic in
education: the curriculum implementation as a change process. In this video, we’ll be dealing with how
curriculum changes are made, what it means to implement a curriculum, and why this process is crucial
in the world of education. Whether you're a teacher, a student, or someone just curious about how
education works behind the scenes, this video is for you.
What is Curriculum Implementation?
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It is one of the most crucial processes in curriculum development. Curriculum implementation is
essentially putting a designed curriculum into action. So, basically, after we plan what should be taught
in the classroom, the next step is for the teachers to put that plan into practice.
On the other hand, Ornstein and Hunkins define curriculum implementation as the interaction between
the written curriculum and the teachers responsible for delivering it. In simpler terms, it’s about teaching
the planned content using the best teaching methods and resources. But it’s not just about teaching; it’s
about shifting from the current curriculum to a new or updated one.
Now, let’s talk about
Curriculum Change – and What Drives this change?
Curriculum change is a process, and understanding how this change happens is key to successful
implementation of a curriculum.
Let’s turn to Kurt Lewin’s Force Field Theory to explain this. In education, there are two forces: the driving
force, which pushes for change, and the restraining force, which resists it. When these forces are
balanced, nothing changes, and things stay the same. But if the driving force becomes stronger, change
happens. If the restraining force is stronger, change is prevented.
[Figure of Lewin’s driving and restraining forces]
Aside from that, there are also
Types of Curriculum Change
There are different types of curriculum changes, and it’s important to understand them. According to
McNeil, these changes can be categorized into five types:
1. Substitution – This is when the current curriculum is completely replaced with a new one. Think
of it as a total overhaul, like switching from one textbook to an entirely different one.
2. Alteration – This involves minor changes. For example, instead of using traditional paper for
graphing in math, you might use graphing calculators.
3. Restructuring – This is a major change in how a program or system is organized. For instance,
moving to a K-12 curriculum model requires schools to rethink how all grade levels work
together.
4. Perturbations – These are small but disruptive changes, like rescheduling classes due to
unexpected events. Teachers need to adjust quickly in these cases.
5. Value Orientation – These are changes that shift the emphasis or values within the curriculum.
For example, a school might shift from a heavy focus on academic achievement to one that also
emphasizes moral education.
Regardless of the kind of change in curriculum and implementation, the process of change may contain
three important elements. As a process, curriculum implementation should be developmental,
participatory, and supportive.
It should be developmental in the sense that it should develop multiple perspectives.
Participatory – This means everyone needs to be involved—teachers, administrators, parents, and even
students.
Supportive – Resources are essential! Teachers need the right materials, training, and time to implement
the new curriculum properly. In order for it to succeed.
CONCLUSION
To sum things up, curriculum implementation as a change process is a complex yet vital part of
education.
It requires careful planning, collaboration, and support to ensure that the intended learning outcomes
are achieved.
By understanding the forces that drive and resist change, and by engaging everyone in the process, we
can make meaningful improvements to education that benefit both teachers and students.
Thank you for joining this lesson, and I hope you’ve gained a clearer understanding of how curriculum
implementation works as a change process.
See you next time!