I have very vague memories of the curriculum I followed when I was at primary school because I moved to lots of different schools in many different countries. The work I remembered that made the biggest impact was project work. For every topic we covered we had a project which really made me think for myself and learn in a more creative way. I still have some of those projects stored away at home in England which really hammers home the idea that if you, as a teacher, make the extra effort, these learning tools can turn into future nostalgia. If I compare my primary education to the primary education at my school I can see a lot of similarities, for example; no testing and learning through inquiry, although through my experience and observation of primary children at my school, I am not convinced that this is an effective method and believe that a happy medium of teacher led learning with testing and student led research learning in best. Not just one or the other.
When I moved to Secondary School I followed the GCSE and A Level Cambridge system, similar to what my students are studying today. In total I did 10 GCSE’s and 3 A Levels. The aims of my school curriculums were to teach the topics in the syllabus and the exam skills necessary to get satisfactory grades at GCSE and A level. Each subject was different and I really responded well to subjects which included hands on activities, group work and project based assignments. The curriculums at my school gave students the freedom to pick subjects which were more suited to them, for example, you wouldn’t find mathematicians doing the arty subjects. The curriculum mostly stuck to the national standards and I did not get the impression that ideas were expanded on in a more in depth manner. Teachers had the freedom, in some subjects, to choose which set texts or topics would be covered but it would have been more effective if the students were involved in this decision process.
All in all the aims of the secondary curriculums were met and were very effective. Perhaps going more into depth would have confused me as a student and knowing enough to pass was enough. I don’t think y Primary curriculums were effective but this is most likely because of the instability of going to 4 different schools.
The curriculum I followed in Secondary is very similar to the curriculum I teach now with the overall aim of covering the course curriculum. I try to incorporate imaginative and innovative ideas to deliver the topics I cover and unlike the school I went to, I avoid using one core text, instead I try to incorporate a variety of multi media, magazines, newspapers, class outings and lots of various books to convey the units of study the IGCSE course requires. I try to involve my students as much as I can giving them various web links to the curriculum or summary hand outs so they have a clear and concise expectation and overview. This was a major difference with my education, I as a student, was never involved in the planning process..
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