CFD Curriculum Design & Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which curriculum design model begins with identifying desired results before determining assessment evidence and then planning instruction?
- Dick and Carey Model
- ADDIE Model
- Backward Design (UbD) (Correct answer)
- Tyler Rationale
Correct answer: Backward Design (UbD)
Backward Design, developed by Wiggins and McTighe, starts with desired results, then assessment evidence, then learning experiences.
Question 2: A faculty developer is helping a colleague align course assessments to learning outcomes. Which principle is being applied?
- Constructive alignment (Correct answer)
- Spiral curriculum
- Mastery learning
- Differentiated instruction
Correct answer: Constructive alignment
Constructive alignment, coined by John Biggs, ensures teaching, learning activities, and assessments are aligned with intended learning outcomes.
Question 3: When developing a curriculum map, what does horizontal alignment refer to?
- Alignment of outcomes across grade levels or years
- Coordination of content and skills within a single course or level (Correct answer)
- Sequencing topics from simple to complex
- Matching course prerequisites to outcomes
Correct answer: Coordination of content and skills within a single course or level
Horizontal alignment ensures consistency and coordination of curriculum elements across courses or sections at the same level.
Question 4: Which approach to curriculum sequencing presents foundational concepts early and revisits them with increasing complexity throughout a program?
- Linear sequencing
- Spiral curriculum (Correct answer)
- Modular design
- Problem-based sequencing
Correct answer: Spiral curriculum
The spiral curriculum, proposed by Bruner, revisits core concepts repeatedly with growing depth and complexity over time.
Question 5: A department is reviewing whether their program outcomes reflect the needs of employers and society. Which type of curriculum analysis are they conducting?
- Internal needs assessment
- External alignment review (Correct answer)
- Formative curriculum evaluation
- Summative content audit
Correct answer: External alignment review
External alignment review examines how well program outcomes correspond to external stakeholder needs such as employers, accreditors, and societal demands.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the 'null curriculum'?
- Topics explicitly taught in the classroom
- The hidden social norms conveyed through schooling
- Content and skills that are intentionally excluded from instruction (Correct answer)
- Unplanned learning outcomes that emerge from student interactions
Correct answer: Content and skills that are intentionally excluded from instruction
Elliot Eisner's concept of the null curriculum refers to what is deliberately or inadvertently left out of the formal curriculum.
Question 7: A faculty developer recommends using threshold concepts when redesigning a course. What is the primary benefit of organizing curriculum around threshold concepts?
- They reduce the total number of learning outcomes needed
- They identify transformative ideas that unlock deeper disciplinary understanding (Correct answer)
- They ensure all content is covered within available contact hours
- They replace the need for prerequisite courses
Correct answer: They identify transformative ideas that unlock deeper disciplinary understanding
Threshold concepts, from Meyer and Land, are transformative, irreversible ideas that open up new ways of thinking within a discipline.
CFD Curriculum Design & Development 2
Which curriculum design model begins with identifying desired results before determining assessment evidence and then planning instruction?