By just being a normal school teacher, you can have a very limited career opportunity and that of course is very much unsatisfactory. So if you want to think beyond the teaching degree that you are presently carrying and want to expand your career opportunities, get a Curriculum and Instruction degree to fulfill your dreams.
With this degree your horizon will expand beyond your expectations as you can then work in any private or public education centre in good positions like a curriculum developer or a coordinator. A curriculum and instruction degree will also make you eligible for high posts like that of a master, teacher, scholar, researcher etc.
If you are willing to have a degree in Curriculum and Instruction then you must enroll for a teaching program that has its focus in educational theory with practical teaching techniques. The teaching program should also complement the present teaching degree that you are carrying. If you have either a certification degree or a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction then it will not only bring good career opportunities but also benefit you greatly by learning essential skills and techniques of teaching.
Surf the net and find out more facts about this degree program in Curriculum and Instruction. Find out about the different colleges and universities that are conducting this degree program, compare the programs and opt for the best one. There are different kinds of specialization in the degree programs like specialization in curriculum and instruction, curriculum and assessment, instruction and assessment, instructional design, curriculum design, curriculum studies and many more.
Curriculum designers are now-a-days being employed by various schools so that they can design a curriculum that can effectively assess the performance of a student and also go at par with the standards of the state and federation. The curriculum designers not only design the syllabus and lessons to be taught, but also use many learning and teaching theories for creating a curriculum that is tailored to meet the students’ needs. Curriculum designers need to update themselves with the latest technologies and likewise add innovative teaching tools like websites, CD-ROMS and multimedia. Curriculum designers are also allotted the job of educating and training the staff of the organization to use the technical resources within the classroom. In this way the curriculum designers take the educational standards to another level.
The job of a curriculum developer includes evaluating the existing program in a school, assessing the performance of a student and lastly recommending the improvements that need to be undertaken. The curriculum developers implement new teaching methods, latest research in pedagogy and new strategies in learning to help the students learn in a better way and retain the knowledge. They develop methods to ensure that the teachers are successful in the application process of the curriculum. Their job also includes reviewing and recommending textbooks and other materials of education which are to be used in the classroom.
The specific tasks of the curricula includes designing the total coursework, training the organization’s instructors, creating specific assessment methods and formats, proper evaluation of learning materials, keeping up-to-date information about the instruction techniques, and the development of the industries. The school systems require the curriculum experts to meet the standards of local, state wise or federation wise similar to that of the U.S. Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Curriculum designers with their developing strategies train the young minds. For developing such strategies, curriculum designers need to have in-depth training in the field of education, curriculum development, psychology and educational administration. So their coursework includes research design, teacher support, and instructor techniques of evaluation, observation and also analysis of the teaching techniques. There are many curriculum designers who specialize in specific areas of learning like math, science or literature.
Most of the employers require the candidates to at least have a master’s degree in the field of curriculum design or some other fields related to it. Candidates having a bachelor’s degree can apply for the post of entry-level assistant. There are a few states that in addition to the degree in curriculum and instruction require a license in teaching or education administration.
The best thing about the program is that both the bachelor and master’s degree can be availed online while you are working full time.