Tapping into Your Creativity and Driving Change through Curriculum Development Approaches
Did you know curriculum development is an exciting career pathway where teachers can make a significant impact in education? There are many different curriculum development approaches, but they can all help drive change.
As a curriculum developer, you can craft innovative, meaningful learning experiences for students while tapping into your creativity. Curriculum development offers many personal and professional benefits for educators.
You get to create what you want to see in education and infuse your education philosophy, creativity, and passion along the way. As a curriculum developer, you can enjoy the freedom, flexibility, and work-life balance that come with this rewarding career path.
In this blog post, we'll explore how you can get clear on your education philosophy, pursue work you believe in, find your niche, and align your curriculum design approach with your philosophy so you can successfully pursue a career in curriculum development.
What is the impact of curriculum design on education?
Curriculum design plays a crucial role in shaping the quality and effectiveness of education, whether you’re working for a local district, an ed-tech company or an educational publisher.
Some key impacts of curriculum design on education include:
Learning Outcomes: Curriculum design directly influences what students learn and the skills they acquire during their educational journey.
Student Engagement: High-quality curriculum is designed to meet the needs and interests of students, making learning engaging and meaningful.
Cultural Impact: Curriculum can also reflect and influence cultural values and norms by emphasizing certain ideas, histories, or perspectives.
Curriculum design is really the blueprint for education, impacting what students learn, how they learn, and the broader societal context in which education takes place.
How to Drive Change Through Curriculum Development
Get Clear On Your Education Philosophy
When designing curriculum, you get to develop the learning experiences that you want to exist in classrooms. Even if you currently work in an environment where you don’t have total control over what you teach, working in curriculum development can be your chance to break beyond those boundaries.
So before diving into the world of curriculum design, it’s important to reflect on your education philosophy. Your philosophy is the guiding light that shapes your curriculum. As you reflect:
Consider what you believe about education, learning, and your role as an educator. How do you believe students learn best? How are your favorite lessons and classroom experiences structured? What would you like to include and/or exclude from lessons? Your beliefs will heavily influence your curriculum design.
Consider your vision and your “why.” What kind of impact do you want to have on students as a curriculum developer? What skills, knowledge, and experiences do you want to empower students with? Having a clear vision will help you design intentional, meaningful curriculum.
Consider research and frameworks. While your personal beliefs are a vital component of your education philosophy, it's essential to acknowledge thought leaders and organizations and the valuable, innovative research and insights in the field. Spend some time learning about different frameworks and curriculum development approaches, such as:
While there are varying frameworks and approaches to curriculum design, choose ones that resonate with your education philosophy. When you apply for curriculum development jobs and interview, you’ll want to be able to talk about your education philosophy and explain why it works.
Find And Establish Your Curriculum Design Niche
Many teachers who become curriculum designers find success in curriculum development by developing a niche, which can ensure you find work you truly love, as well as help you stand out among curriculum designers. A niche goes beyond a curriculum development approach and helps you hone in on the type of curriculum design work you excel at.
To help you find your niche, reflect on your strengths and interests as an educator. Do you specialize in a particular subject area, grade level, or topic that aligns with your strengths and interests?
For instance, maybe you love teaching social and emotional lessons. Perhaps you could use that passion to create curriculum around social and emotional learning. Or if you love art, science, or history, you can find ways to integrate these elements into the curriculum you create.
Or you might be the type of person who loves many different subjects and topics. Choosing one area— whether it’s a grade range or a specific topic— is a great starting point, and you can always add in others later as you expand your experience in curriculum development.
At the Educator Forever Agency, some recent curriculum projects we’ve loved working on included collaborating with a nonprofit to develop social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum for elementary and middle school students, as well as creating PreK-5th grade Math, Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and SEL curriculum for an ed tech company.
Align Your Curriculum Design Approach And Try It Out
Whether you’re starting a curriculum project or you’re applying for curriculum development jobs, think about how you can align the curriculum with your education philosophy and passion.
Consider how you can foster student engagement and active learning. And try to incorporate hands-on activities, cooperative learning strategies, technology-based resources, and culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches to curriculum development and learning.
The best way to get clear on something is to take action. If you want to better understand your approach to curriculum development, try it out. Even if you’re not yet working in curriculum development, you can practice!
Brainstorm what your ideal curriculum project would look like. Would you be creating social and emotional lessons for a kids’ show? Would you be writing parent-facing lessons for an ed tech company?
Try to create some samples of what this curriculum could look like. These curriculum samples can form a portfolio that you use when applying for jobs in curriculum development!
Write for the classroom you wish you had, with all the freedom and support you desire. Create the best possible learning experiences for kids, thinking outside the box to create the most engaging curriculum that you can.
Through the writing process, you may uncover more about your education philosophy and what you desire to see in schools. Keep in mind that the best curriculum developers also continually evolve and improve their approach, which includes embracing feedback and keeping up with research to create effective resources that best meet the needs of all learners.
Ready to tap into your creativity and drive positive change within the education system?
If you’re looking to get the support and everything you need to be a successful curriculum developer, join the Curriculum Development Foundations Program.
Through the program, you’ll:
✔️ Learn about the research and pedagogies behind many different types of curricula and curriculum development approaches, and create instructional materials to match your education philosophy.
✔️ Benefit from support and personalized feedback on your work from your assigned curriculum coach, an experienced curriculum developer.
✔️ Find out how to find and land jobs in curriculum development.
✔️ Walk away with a polished portfolio of curriculum samples and an amazing community supporting you as you step into working as a curriculum developer.
Discover what makes the Curriculum Development Foundations Program truly one of the best curriculum development courses for educators!
Don’t just take it from us – hear what educators like you are saying:
