CURRICULUM KNOWLEDGE 1
Curriculum Change Plan: Part 5 – Curriculum Knowledge and Implementation
<Insert Your Name Here>
School of Education, Liberty University
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Curriculum Change Plan: Part 5 – Curriculum Knowledge and Implementation
Curriculum Integration Approaches
Incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL) into the Utah Secondary Health Education
curriculum means adopting a thoughtful and intentional approach to provide students with social
and emotional competencies and skills. This involves incorporating a theme-based approach and
SEL activities and practices that will make learning more relevant and engaging in the
curriculum change plan. The Wheeler Model of curriculum development is connected with the
educational philosophy of existentialism which provides a structure for SEL curriculum
integration. These approaches include structuring learning experiences centered around themes
or topics that teaches self-awareness, self-concept, relationship skills, social awareness, and
decision-making. Incorporating SEL activities, practices, and discussion into lessons and student
interactions promote students' social-emotional growth and well-being. This includes Socratic
Seminars, role-playing activities, group projects, and mindfulness exercises.
Theoretical benefits of integrating social-emotional learning in curriculum are holistic
student development, enhanced academic performance, and a positive school climate. SEL
integration allows educators to create learning experiences that are relevant to their students'
lives, interest, and future goals. This increases students engagement and motivation in learning
and provides them with opportunities to enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving
skills. Student engagement promotes discussion based questions, critical thinking, and inclusion;
this provides students with a better understanding of the curriculum and skills that promote real-
life application (Aslan & Şahin, 2020). Holistic student development benefits curriculum
integration by fostering students' ability to make connections between what they are learning and
real-world contexts leading them to become well-rounded individuals. "Holistic education
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attempts to bring education into alignment with the fundamental realities of nature" (Miller, 2019
pg.5). Curriculum integration should encircle opportunities for enhanced student performance by
incorporating methods of instructing and learning that provide difficult real-world tasks that
result in product creation. (Elbyaly, 2023). These concepts encourages students to think critically
and solve complicated problems by applying their knowledge and skills to resolve and address
real-world situations leading to successful learning outcomes and achievement. The overall
benefit of incorporating SEL integration into the curriculum promotes a positive school climate.
The curriculum integration adopts a sense of belonging, empathy, respect, and collaboration
among students, educators, administration, and the school community. "Emergent evidence
suggests a positive school climate may be a promising population-level intervention to promote
academic achievement and student well-being" (Daily et al., 2019, para. 1).
One of the main concerns about integrating SEL into the Utah Secondary Health
curriculum is the demand of time and resources needed to effectively incorporate SEL practices
and activities. To incorporate curriculum integration into ongoing routines, lessons, and
classrooms educators and school administration spend careful time planning, preparing, and
lending support to one another. This may include professional development, curriculum
development, and additional time for SEL activities and collaboration. Educators may find it
taxing to balance the integration of SEL with current academic content and other learning
targets, leading to concerns about time constraints and increased workloads. Resistance to
change is another theoretical disadvantage when integrating SEL into the curriculum. Many
educators, parents, and stakeholders might be against SEL integration due to questions about
replacing the integrity of academic subjects, increased workloads, or being unfamiliar with SEL
practices. Additionally, personal beliefs, cultural differences, and philosophical beliefs about the
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purpose of schools and educators in fostering social and emotional development can influence
attitudes towards SEL curriculum integration. Addressing resistance to change requires
communication, collaboration, and professional development to establish understanding, support,
and awareness for curriculum integration among educators, parents, and stakeholders. "Socially,
emotionally, and culturally competent teachers are better equipped to reach and equitably teach
students with a broad range of backgrounds and social identities" (Donahue-Keegan,
2019,p.154).
I favor a theme-based integration approach that correlates with SEL competencies into
learning experiences through specific themes or topics. This approach aligns with my curriculum
change plan by providing holistic student development, increasing academic excellence, and
adopting a positive school climate. The curriculum change plan aims to create learning
experiences that enhances students' social-emotional growth that supports the development of
crucial life skills. By adopting a theme-based integration approach, I can design learning
experiences that allow students to connect SEL skills with real-world contexts.
Student-Centered Approaches
Project-based Learning (PBL) is a student-centered approach that allows students to
discover real-world problems and challenges. "PBL involves students in real-world activities,
enabling them to work with the material to be learned. It intimately connects disciplinary content
and disciplinary practices" (Juuti et al., 2021, para. 12). This approach exercises a students'
ability to critically think, collaborate with others, and solve complex problems. By incorporating
hands-on projects and activities centered around SEL themes or topics students can apply their
learning in relevant ways that leads to deeper understanding. The advantage of implementing
PBL promotes enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving by incorporating authentic real-
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world challenges for students to actively engage with. It also provides students with
opportunities to develop collaboration skills by encouraging teamwork and communication in
order to complete projects. However, one disadvantage of project-based learning involves time
consuming planning and executing for educators in the classroom. The time constraint for
implementing PBL can be discouraging for educators to consistently incorporate in their routine.
Another student-centered approach for implementing the curriculum change plan is
implementing differentiated instruction that meets the needs for diverse learner. By adapting
teaching practices based on learning assessments, educators can design personalized learning
experiences that meets the needs to individual learning styles. Differentiated instruction aligns
with the curriculum change plan by providing inclusive and personalized learning that is
centered on the integration of SEL competencies and promotes student development. Therefore,
the advantage of differentiation ensures that all students learning needs are addressed and have
meaningful learning experiences. Designing lessons that meet the needs of all learners requires
careful planning. The disadvantage of differentiated instruction is the complexity of planning and
preparation. In order for students to get the most benefit out of each lesson educators need to
spend time tailoring their curriculum that fits best with each student.
Personalized learning is another student-center approach that is implemented in the
curriculum change plan. Personalized learning focuses on choice and ownership by designing
learning experiences to individual needs, interest, and aspirations. Incorporating technology and
student choice allows educators to create personalized learning pathways that empower students
to take ownership of their learning experiences. "Personalized learning activities are meaningful
and relevant to learners, driven by their interests, and often self-initiated" (Xie., et al, 2019,
para.3). The advantages of personalized learning encourages student autonomy, personal growth,
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and increases student engagement by making learning more relevant and meaningful. In
classrooms today incorporating personalized learning means more educators are integrating
technology into their lessons; this may require access to technology and digital resources which
can be a disadvantage for teachers who do not have the necessary resources for technology
equipment.
Personalized learning aligns with the curriculum change plan by promoting student
choice, autonomy, and holistic development that supports the integration of SEL through a
variety of learning experiences. Therefore, project-based learning, differentiated instruction, and
personalized learning provide student-centered approaches that enhances student engagement,
choice and personal growth. While each approach has their own set of advantages and
disadvantages, their correlation with the goals of my curriculum change plan fosters students'
social, emotional, and academic success. By integrating these student-centered approaches I aim
to create supportive and inclusive learning environments that resonate with students interest,
diverse needs, and goals.
Hidden Curriculum
The concept of hidden curriculum refers to values, perspectives, and lessons that students
unintentionally learn through the school's culture and social interactions. While the SEL
curriculum focuses on students' social, emotional, and academic growth the hidden curriculum
shapes students' beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors about social norms and values. Understanding
the hidden curriculum is important for curriculum change efforts as it can either support or
diminish the goals of SEL curriculum. A strategy to overcome hidden curriculum is to promote
SEL integration across the school's culture, practices, and interactions. This involves correlating
school policies, classroom practices, and social interactions with SEL values. This strategy
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builds supportive learning environments that promotes positive social and emotional behaviors.
"Schools that have a strong school culture are institutes where the students and teachers have a
high motivation to learn and teach and where sincere and honest relationships among school
members and the sense of acting together becomes important" (Kalkan, et.el, para.9).
By implementing SEL across the school
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References
Aslan, R., & Şahin, M. (2020). 'i feel like i go blank': Identifying the factors affecting
classroom participation in an oral communication course. TEFLIN Journal - A publication on the
teaching and learning of English, 31(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v31i1/19-43
Daily, S. M., Mann, M. J., Kristjansson, A. L., Smith, M. L., & Zullig, K. J. (2019). School
climate and academic achievement in middle and high school students. Journal of School Health,
89(3), 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12726
Donahue-Keegan, D., Villegas-Reimers, E., & Cressey, J. M. (2019). Integrating social-
emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching in teacher education preparation programs.
Teacher Education Quarterly, 46(4), 150-168.
Elbyaly, M. Y. H., & Elfeky, A. I. M. (2023). The Impact of Problem-Solving Programs In
Developing Critical Thinking Skills. European Chemical Bulletin, 12, 6636-6642.
Juuti, K., Lavonen, J., Salonen, V., Salmela-Aro, K., Schneider, B., & Krajcik, J. (2021). A
teacher–researcher partnership for professional learning: Co-designing project-based learning
units to increase student engagement in science classes. Journal of Science Teacher Education,
32(6), 625–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560x.2021.1872207
Kalkan, Ü., Altınay Aksal, F., Altınay Gazi, Z., Atasoy, R., & Dağlı, G. (2020). The relationship
between school administrators’ leadership styles, school culture, and organizational image. Sage
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Miller, J. P. (2019). The holistic curriculum. University of Toronto press.
