Monday, April 26, 2010

Blog Post Reflection


Likewise, The Chicken and Egg Race. We could have no idea where to start, but can have opinion on that.

After reading, I found the curriculum having been in evolution. In the ppt, the textbook and the article, it was discussed mainly about educational curriculum in different subjects but there was something in common. All those materials browse and try to find out how well curriculum works in several aspects, the aspects that we educators have to take it account. How to see it as is differently mentioned in each material.

In the book, Designing Language Course, Grave (2000) showed a picture of “A Frame of Course Development Process” (p.3) to help understanding the idea about. It is described as two aspects: “No hierarchy”, and “System” (p.3) in the some components such as assessing needs, developing materials, conceptualizing and so on. It can be initialized in any point of the components that affect each other. The author suggested the base of the all the components of course design were “defining the context” and “articulating belief”. Assumption or value was defined as the word ‘belief’. I like the part, the author made those two foundation and used the term as to express his idea. I also agree that it is necessary of “Pedagogical reasoning” (p.5), which should take it into account to evolve knowledge into well-planned course. Most of all, the sentence, “course design is a work in progress” (p.8), was released its meaning. It was like “once course design meets students and the course is underway, it will of necessity be modified” (p.8).

Carroll sees approaches to curriculum mostly in two different ways, a few two different ways. First, he introduced the views to curriculum, which sees it from outside to inside, and vice versa, which means once the curriculum set up, it has to be implemented, the other can change as they go through. Second, a top-down approach. The author told the writing introduces “linkage model” that Markee (1997) mentioned. Not about top down measure, but more focus on integration between teachers and managers. Those different views of curriculum challenged me and suggested there would be more than them. Another interesting thing was that the adult learning was adapted into as teacher learning. As it is seen, several factors such as teachers, students, managers, contents and so on, have to be integrated properly.

The word ‘postmodern’ was quite new to me. I tried to find out what means to education in surfing Internet in Korean. After a few minutes later, I was getting to understand it a little. I found the curriculum design in postmodern education as views in various ways, not just see it as good or bad. It seems to open every feasibility. It was mainly about what goals to gain, what experiences to be utilized, how well organized it, and how effectively evaluated.

All reading resources introduced there are various ways to view curriculum, and gave me questions like “then, how to make effective curriculum”, “where to start”, “what would be more to make the course better”. I am excited to take the next step to explore and study.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

About me

I am TaeJong, Yu. just call me TJ.

I took B.A. of English literature, Kangneung Nat'l Univ, Kangwondo in 2005.

I am currently teaching middle schoolrs and high ones English
However, I am interested in teaching adults also.

Mobiles are everywhere, so comportable with communicating someone in any purpose instantly. I usually use my cell phone to sending text messages and photos, and talking to my friends and family. However, I have never used mobile devices for language learning or teaching before.

I am happy to take this class, hope to learn a lot of designing curriculum.^^