How can you describe your experience with curriculum development?

Curriculum development is a meticulous task that needs to be planned and designed by a subject expert. I seek feedback from the industry to pick the most happening practice. Also, I refer to premier institutions' curriculum for standards, resources. The plan of curriculum design is underrated. It requires rigorous effort and research to compile introduction/ in depth knowledge in a particular field to be condensed to limited hours of teaching without losing out on its essence.

If you are looking for full-time roles in curriculum development, this is especially important. It's important that you know what the role is and isn't because most corporations don't exactly get it. In my work supporting transitioning teachers, I frequently see job descriptions for CD roles that are really ID (instructional design) roles. The two get confused and overlap a lot in corporate environments, and being aware of that upfront helps.

It's also helpful to note how many teachers and students used the curriculum you wrote. This can be particularly helpful when applying for a role in curriculum development because it demonstrates to the prospective employer that you can design effective curriculua that can be used on a large scale.

Very few curriculum development roles will ask you for a portfolio, but you should have one anyway. If you can't include the curriculum you worked on for copyright or proprietary reasons, you can make a short highlight reel video where you show curricular documents and quickly talk through them. And of course, include writing samples from blogs or articles you've written. I have a portfolio complete with examples and it has set me apart in the job process in the past, according to the recruiters I worked with. So if you're looking into Curriculum Development, make a portfolio to show off your skills!

When developing curriculum always consider the cultural capital of your students. Define and think of what does the student bring into the teaching space - their personalities, history, background, interests, and learning capacity. Be mindful of the structure of your curriculum and openly and explicitly state the learning outcomes and what is expected of learners at each module, lesson or project. There should be a complete understanding between learner and educator of what are the shared common goals for the curriculum and what students will be taking away in each lesson in terms of skills, knowledge or practicalities. Defining the cultural capital present allows an easier flow of what matters in the curriculum!

It is important to have a plan in place. Curriculum mapping the skills your students will already have, what they will gain for this scheme and when they will use those skills in the future. It is also vital to consider the flow of your lessons and the fluidity of content. A mid term plan is a good place to start as you can outline the number of lessons, the lesson objectives, the key content, AFL and any other aspects needed.