EDUC 872
CURRICULUM PLAN CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW The purpose of this assignment is for you to critique a curriculum plan based upon what you have learned in this course by describing the strengths or weaknesses of the curriculum plan. You will evaluate and critique one curriculum plan three separate times using three different articles or e-chapters provided during the assigned module. Each article or e-chapter focuses on a single topic or portion of a lesson. You will only need to critique that topic or portion of the lesson through the assigned article or e-chapter. INSTRUCTIONS The paper will include a title page and be divided into two main sections. The first section shall have a 200-250 word summary of the assigned article or e-chapter. The second section, the critique, shall have 100-125 words comparing the article/e-chapter to the curriculum plan and 100-125 words contrasting the article/e-chapter to the curriculum plan. In your critique, you should provide suggestions to improve the curriculum plan based upon what’s been learned in this course. This assignment must include a title page, have a 400–500-word limit, and adhere to current APA format. Title page and citations are not included in the word limit. Articles or e- chapters must each be summarized and analyzed individually, followed by a comparison and contrasting between the article/e-chapter and the curriculum plan. A Curriculum Plan Critique Template has been provided to assist you with this assignment. For each Curriculum Plan Critique Assignment, please use the following curriculum plan provided by the Massachusetts Department of Education. (You are welcome to use your own lesson plan or unit to critique for these assignments instead of the one provided. If you decide to use your own lesson or unit to critique, please upload it with your assignment in Canvas).
• Sample Curriculum Plan: Plants Make Their Own Food: Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science, Grade 5
You will notice in the above sample plan that the Massachusetts Department of Education utilizes the Understanding by Design template which you will also use for your Curriculum Design Project in Module 7: Week 7. Below you will find the critique topic and the corresponding article or e-chapter assigned for each module that a Curriculum Plan Critique is due. You will only need to critique the portion of the sample curriculum plan based upon the assigned topic:
• Module 2: Week 2 – Topic: Standards o Chapter 2: Alignment to Standards (Lalor, 2016)
• Module 3: Week 3 – Topic: Educational Objectives o The Tyler Rationale (Kliebard, 1970)
• Module 5: Week 5 – Topic: Differentiation o Good Curriculum as a Basis for Differentiation (Tomlinson, 2014)
It seems like you’ve provided detailed instructions for an assignment where you need to critique a curriculum plan using specific articles or e-chapters. Here’s a structured approach you can follow based on the provided instructions:
—
**Title: Curriculum Plan Critique: Plants Make Their Own Food**
**Section 1: Summary of Assigned Article or E-Chapter (200-250 words)**
In Module 2, Chapter 2 of Lalor’s (2016) book “Alignment to Standards” discusses the critical importance of aligning curriculum with educational standards. The chapter emphasizes that effective curriculum design begins with a clear understanding of the learning outcomes expected from the standards. It outlines strategies for ensuring alignment, such as backward design principles, where educators start with the end goals in mind and then develop assessments and learning activities that support these goals. Lalor argues that alignment enhances instructional coherence and improves student achievement by focusing teaching efforts on essential knowledge and skills mandated by the standards.
**Section 2: Critique**
**Comparison (100-125 words):** Lalor’s chapter on alignment to standards aligns closely with the Understanding by Design template used in the Massachusetts Department of Education’s curriculum plan. Both emphasize the importance of starting with clear learning objectives and designing assessments and activities to meet these objectives. They share a commitment to ensuring that every aspect of the curriculum plan supports the intended educational standards.
**Contrasting (100-125 words):** Despite the alignment, Lalor’s chapter could benefit from more specific examples tailored to the life sciences context of the Massachusetts curriculum plan. The state curriculum plan integrates life science, earth science, and physical science seamlessly, which Lalor’s general principles on alignment could further elaborate on with specific science-based applications.
**Suggestions for Improvement:** To strengthen the curriculum plan based on Lalor’s insights, educators could enhance alignment by explicitly linking each instructional component to specific science standards. This could involve revising lesson plans to include detailed references to state learning objectives and integrating more hands-on activities that reinforce scientific concepts across disciplines.
—
Ensure to adapt this template for each article or e-chapter assigned in Modules 3 and 5, maintaining a clear structure and focusing on specific elements relevant to the curriculum plan. This approach will help you fulfill the assignment requirements effectively.
"Place your order now for a similar assignment and have exceptional work written by our team of experts, guaranteeing you "A" results."
