1

Element 5e: Summary and Reflection on Curriculum

So often in the profession as educators we can hear grumblings about how students cant
do certain learning outcomes, or our hands are tied to what administrators or school boards want
of us; however, without differing attitudes the teaching profession wouldnt have inventive ideas
in curriculum development. Throughout this inquiry of developing my own curriculum I found
it to be encouraging, visionary, and challenging to my overall personal growth as a teacher.
These three attributes blossomed throughout the semester with reflection on my teaching
practices along with reflection with my peers in developing my curriculum project. I believe my
curriculum is encouraging to other professionals to have access to because it demonstrates that
students can have rigorous learning outcomes, and enjoy having the opportunity to illustrate their
learning through different avenues. For instance, the collegial discussions and learning to
question deeply instead of on the surface it important for 21st century learners because they need
to know how to develop these skills not only for classroom activities, but for future employment
opportunities. Furthermore, students need such activities to engage them so students are not
sitting in a classroom being feed information; instead students are being encouraged to discover
knowledge on their own.
In addition to my curriculum being encouraging it is also visionary because it does take a
lot of work on the teachers part to guide students into becoming more autonomous in the
classroom. However, it is advantageous for students to have such educative experiences in the
classroom where they can have the wheel to drive the lesson instead of the teacher doing all of
the driving.
Finally, it is also equally important that this curriculum inquiry project was challenging to
my personal growth as a teacher because I want my students to have rigorous learning outcomes

2
as well as for me to develop such activities so I can see my students grow. In addition, this
curriculum should be challenging when put into effect for students and teachers alike because
without challenges then as educators we are not growing and adapting; therefore, our students
cannot either.
Ultimately, through the design of my curriculum my personal practical knowledge as well
as my personal narratives glimmers throughout the curriculum. In this particular curriculum
situation I feel I set the exemplar for my students by making them know that they can think
critically, be accountable for their learning, set expectations for themselves, as well as express
their thoughts and opinions educationally/diplomatically with justification to back up their
thoughts.