Pembangunan kurikulum merupakan satu proses yang komprehensif melibatkan;1. Analisis tujuan/matlamat2. Reka bentuk satu kurikulum/program3. Pelaksanaan kurikulum/program4. Penilaian

Satu proses yang deduktif dan agak sistematikApabila pertimbangan nilai yang utama/penting telah dilaksanakan berhubung tujuan/matlamat, mengkonsepsikan satu kurikulum untuk mereka bentuk satu kurikulum selanjutnya dapat dilakukan.Setiap reka bentuk mempunyai penekanannya yang tersendiri.

Kerja membangunkan kurikulum selalunya mengandungi andaian-andaian yang apabila diwartakan (formalized) akan menjadi falsafah.Falsafah atau satu himpunan andaian-andaian ini membantu dalam pembangunan kurikulum dengan menjadi kriteria untuk membuat keputusan (establish the criteria for making decision.Apabila tujuan telah diputuskan, selanjutnya matlamat, objektif dan standad digunakan untuk membangunkan kurikulum. Pembangunan dilakukan melalui curriculum maps, framework and the alignment process

Analisis keperluan digunakan untuk menaksirkan keperluan atau efikasi sesebuah kurikulum.Kurikulum yang dihasilkan mestilah sesuai dengan pelajar yang disasarkan.

Proses pembangunan kurikulum adalah mengikut langkah-langkah berikut:Penyataan Falsafah (Philosophy Statement) Program ConceptMatlamatObjektifReka Bentuk Kurikulum/ProgramAnalisis KeperluanPelaksanaan KurikulumPenilaian Kurikulum

Kriteria untuk Membuat Keputusan- Prinsip/Rasional untuk membuat sesuatu keputusan dalam memilih matlamat/objektif dan isi kandungan dikenali sebagai kriteria dalam usaha membangunkan sesuatu kurikulum; antara contohnya adalah rasional untuk membentuk sikap bertanggungjawab, atau ketrampilan.

Peranan Falsafah PendidikanFalsafah Pendidikan memandu proses pembangunan kurikulum dengan menyediakan keutamaan dan menjawab persoalan yang berkait dengan nilai (Educational philosophy guides all curriculum development by setting priorities and answering value-laden questions).Philosophies set the parameters of definitions of curriculum, thereby defining the scope of curriculum development process.Di Malaysia FPK menjadi asas untuk proses pembangunan kurikulum.

Program Concept

Concepts for Child-Focused Program

1. Philosophy StatementWe desire in each school, kindergarten through adult education, a program that will focus on the individual student to provide learning experiences in the affective, cognitive and psychomotor areas.

2. Program conceptsA program of individual instruction will be implementedA basic diagnostic-prescriptive approach to teaching will be usedA variety of materials, both commercial and teacher-made, will be usedA flexible schedule will be implementedInstructional assistants will perform teaching, planning and clerical tasksf. Instructional leaders (teachers) will serve as facilitators of program planning and implementers

Matlamat (Goals) dan Objektif Goals represent intended outcome or result.Goals can be thought of having increasing levels of detail.Global goals are nearly philosophical statements.Goals may be broken down into subparts.Finally in greater detail, the goals may be stated in terms of instructional or behavioral outcomes.

The scope of the educational programs can be determined from the global statements, but it is the objectives (detailed goal statements) that define the true purpose of the curriculum.When goals reach the classroom level, they usually become behavioral and focus on what the students learns as opposeed to what the teacher does.Such linkage is necessary for program evaluation to be viable and for instructional accountability to exist.

An example of this reduction can be given using thinking skills as a focus.At the general level (global) the goal might be highest priority will be given to the development of sensitive, autonomous, thinking human beings.More specifically, this goal may be targeted or defined as Critical thinking skills will be mastered by all students prior to graduation.Even more specific (behavioral) goals, now an objective, would be Students will evidence critical thinking by demonstrating the ability to classify, compare and contrast, follow directions, and reason using both inductive and deductive logic on completion of the course.

Reka Bentuk KurikulumCurriculum designs are most observable as programs and as content organizers.Ex. Program such as the middle school design. Contoh di Malaysia Program KBSR atau KBSMProgram middle school design as based on a human development rationale (as opposed to a content design) and has a three-part curriculum emphasis: academics, personal learning and skills for continued learning.

The Middle School as a Program Design1. Philosophy & Program ConceptA. Child-centeredB. Holistic knowledge structure is developedC. Thinking skills are priority goalsD. Safety is essentialE. Students development needs are important

2. CurriculumAcademic excellence / social competence 1. Academic core , 2. Exploration and developmental programPersonal developmentc. Mastery of continuous learning skills

3. OrganizationA. Interdisciplinary teamsB. Advisement programc. Block scheduling and flexible scheduling within blocksD .Exploratory and developmental experiences (elective classes, wheels and exploration credits, mini-course, clubs, activities, interest groups, intramurals)E. Team planning and shared decision makingF. Integrated curriculumG. In-service education and professional development

4. Implementing StrategiesCooperative learningInterdisciplinary teachingLearning stylesStudent services and career planning systemsHome-school partnerships and communications

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