Curriculum Development and Design Flashcards

Which of the following is an example of 'null curriculum'?

Answer: Subjects deliberately excluded from the formal curriculum, such as financial literacy

The null curriculum, a concept from Elliot Eisner, refers to what schools choose NOT to teach—the absence of certain content, skills, or perspectives.

A school adopts a curriculum that emphasizes student questions, interests, and active problem-solving as the primary driver of learning. This is best described as:

Answer: Learner-centered curriculum

A learner-centered curriculum prioritizes students' needs, interests, and active participation as the foundation for organizing content and instruction.

A curriculum map is primarily used to:

Answer: Document and align what is taught, when, and how across a school or district

Curriculum mapping is a process of recording and aligning what is taught, when, and how across classrooms, grades, and subjects to ensure coherence and coverage.

Which of the following best illustrates the difference between 'intended' and 'enacted' curriculum?

Answer: A state standard specifies fractions in grade 3, but a teacher skips fractions due to time constraints

Intended curriculum is what planners and policymakers specify; enacted curriculum is what teachers actually deliver, which can deviate due to practical constraints.

According to constructivist principles, effective curriculum design should prioritize:

Answer: Active student construction of knowledge through experience and reflection

Constructivism, associated with Piaget and Vygotsky, holds that learners actively construct knowledge through experience, inquiry, and social interaction rather than passive reception.

A district wants its K-12 curriculum to show clear progression of skills without repetition or gaps. The team should focus on improving:

Answer: Articulation and vertical alignment

Articulation and vertical alignment ensure that curriculum content flows logically from one grade level to the next, building on prior learning without unnecessary repetition or gaps.

Which of the following is the MOST accurate description of 'essential questions' in curriculum design?

Answer: Open-ended, thought-provoking questions that guide inquiry and reveal deep understandings

Essential questions, central to Understanding by Design, are open-ended and thought-provoking—they guide curriculum inquiry and cannot be answered with a simple fact.