TLS3003_L4 homework check_Yeung (2012)_SBCD

1. Which of the following is NOT the rationale behind School-based Curriculum Development (SBCD) since the early 1980s?

There was…

2. Top-down approach of curriculum development (i.e. central authorities prepare the curriculum materials and teachers implement them) is criticized because…

3. Which of the followings are the principles of SBCD?

^{(i) Schools are the center of curriculum development.}

^{(ii) The realization of the missions of schools requires the decentralization of curriculum decision making from central authorities.}

^{(iii) Teachers directly participate in the curriculum decision making.}

^{(iv) Teachers work in teams to develop school-based curriculum; thus, curriculum development is an internal process of collaborative team work.}

^{(v) In its ideal mode, it involves student participation.}

4. What are the potential values of SBCD?

^{(i) Enhance the autonomy and professionalization of the school and its personnel}

^{(ii) Facilitates the democratization of educational policymaking (i.e. bottom-up)}

^{(iii) Helps schools become more responsive to the changing demands of society}

^{(iv) Empowers teachers with freedom and autonomy in the curriculum decision-making and development process}

^{(v) Involves the greater participation of other stakeholders (e.g. students, parents…) in the curriculum making and design process of a school}

5. What are the difficulties/limitations of operating SBCD in HK?

^{(i) Teachers are too busy – occupied with trivial admin. matters, ed. innovations & reforms, professional development workshops, school evaluation & inspection...}

^{(ii) Cultural limitation - teachers perceive themselves as curriculum developers rather than implementers because of the top-down tradition & psychological habit.}

^{(iii) Mandated ownership - teachers perceive SBCD as a task handed to them by an authority figure.}

^{(iv) Limited funding – teachers have very limited funding sources to trail the SBCD.}