Designing Curriculum for Learning in Formal and Non-formal Settings

Designing Curriculum for Learning in Formal and Non-formal Settings is a Cognitive Science class taught by Laura Wenk.

Course Description
In the current political climate, schools are pressed to teach a curriculum that is a mile wide and an inch deep. Yet evidence from cognitive psychology shows that such a curriculum does not result in conceptual understanding or the acquisition of higher order thinking. In addition, much important learning is taking place in after-school and alternative settings. In this course students learn how to develop curriculums that help young people become capable of critical thinking and engaging deeply in learning opportunities. Each student develops a curriculum unit on a topic of their choice. In addition, students get some practice teaching. This course is designed for Division II and III students who are interested in teaching in formal or non-formal settings or who are developing curriculum as part of their independent work. This course satisfies Division I distribution requirements.

Learning Goals

 * Reading
 * Project-based