Curriculum Changes

As you are aware, the Ministry of Education has undertaken a curriculum redesign process that ma...

04-Sep-2013

As you are aware, the Ministry of Education has undertaken a curriculum redesign process that many of our members continue to be engaged with.  

According to the ministry the design principles for the development of new provincial curricula include fewer prescriptive learning standards, while stressing concepts and big ideas.  

There is also a focus on embedding “curriculum enablers” throughout the curriculum—such as inquiry, integrated learning, and concept-based learning and technology.  

A summary of the ministry’s process to date on curricula transformation and redesign can be found at: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/transforming_curriculum.php. 

Curriculum redesign

This past spring, teams of teachers worked with the Ministry of Education to draft K–10 curricula in the following areas: Arts Education, English Language Arts, Français langue premiere, Français langue seconde immersion, Health & PE, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  

Some of the early curriculum drafts are currently being shared on some Provincial Specialist Association listservs.   

These early drafts are in various stages of development. The majority are currently undergoing editorial processes and an internal review process.  A field review process is forthcoming in the coming school year. Drafts will be posted on the ministry website in the fall.  It is expected that the drafts in the areas listed above will be available from K–9. The Grade 10 curriculum drafts will be part of the graduation requirements review process in the fall, as the curriculum at Grades 11 and 12 is dependent on further consultations according to the ministry.  

Other areas to follow

Over the summer a small group of educators reviewed the work done to date on the 2011 draft French curriculum material, and considered how to utilize the work in the context of the curriculum redesign directions. As well, exploratory work will begin in the Applied Skills area.  How curricula address special education and diversity will be an area of further exploration to come.  

Competencies continua development There have been ongoing consultations with teachers in nine locals with regards to the development of cross-curricular competencies. The redesigned curriculum framework includes three broad cross-curricular competencies: thinking competency, personal and social competency, and communication competency.  

The draft concept paper on cross-curricular competencies is posted on the ministry’s website at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/docs/def_xcurr_comps.pdf.  

Field work is underway to collect student samples and develop competency continua. Draft continua will be made available for review and feedback in the fall and development work will continue in the coming school year.  

Feedback

K–9 curriculum drafts are to be posted to the ministry website in early fall 2013 for review and feedback during the fall and winter. The ministry has indicated that the timeline for completion of redesigned curricula will be based on feedback received. Feedback on curricula may be sent to curriculum@gov.bc.ca.  

NOTE: It will be important to share with your members that while redesigned curricula is in draft format, all current provincial curricular and provincial examinations are still in place.  

Janice Neden
Assistant Director, Professional and Social Issues Division