Curriculum
Overview
Curricula can vary significantly from school to school. Some, such as the KIPP schools, are highly structured, constrained, and cohort-paced with no integrative themes. Others, such as the Big Picture Company, are mostly open, with a differentiated course offering, an individual pace, and an individual learning plan for each student. When examining in the differences between schools, this is perhaps the most important set of variables to capture.
Potential Variables
| Variable Name | Variable Type | Description | Relevant References |
| Amount of Structure | Categorical | - Highly structured: exclusively course-based following a set curriculum
- Somewhat structured: mostly or all course-based, but course formats permit student to execute some disciplinary projects; or, school requires a senior project
- Mixed: students spend some time in classes and some time working on interdisciplinary projects (note: the ratio of class-time to project-time may change as students progress through school)
- Mostly open: most learning is based upon interdisciplinary projects, with courses provided as needed
| Blumenfeld et al., 1991; Boaler, 1997; Brown, Collins, & Duguid, 1989; Newell, 2003 |
| Course Offerings | Dichotomous | - Differentiated: school makes an effort to offer a wide variety of coursework to suit individual skill levels and interests
- Constrained: school deliberately limits the number of course offerings to ensure that all students are exposed to the same curriculum
| Lee, Chow-Hoy, Burkam, Geverdt, & Smerdon, 1998 |
| Authentic Pedagogy | Dichotomous | - Yes: A concerted effort is made at the school level to design and implement an authentic pedagogy
- No: No effort is made at the school level
| Newmann & Associates, 1996; Newman, Bryk, & Nagaoka, 2001; Newmann, Secada, & Wehlage, 1995 |
| Common Planning Time | Quantitative | The amount of collaborative planning time for school staff per week | Louis, Marks, & Kruse, 1996 |
| Curricular Themes | Dichotomous | - Yes: school makes use of school-wide curricular themes under which traditional subjects can be integrated; these themes could be centered around performing arts or have a cultural focus (e.g., dance, music, Latino culture, etc.)
- No: school-wide themes are not used
| None |
| Individual Learning Plan | Dichotomous | - Yes: each student has own individual learning plan or something akin to it that is regularly reviewed and updated with students personal goals
- No: no formal mechanism for the development and review of individual-level learning plans
| None |
| Pace | Dichotomous | - Cohort: Students proceed through school at the same pace, as a cohort
- Individual: Students are permitted to work at their own pace and only advance when they have completed the required work
| None |
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