A curriculum that is based on the basic outline that teachers follow when creating their lesson plans for the year is called an open curriculum. It is essential to understand that curricula vary by country, region, grade level, and subject matter, and sometimes they also state what objectives each student must achieve regarding reading, writing, and speaking by the end of the school year.
It can also state what can be very specific, clearly delineating what a teacher can cover in her classroom, or can be very broad, enabling the teacher to personalize the curriculum. Also, depending on the educational level, an open curriculum is one in which the student or teacher determines the educational topics covered and the amount of time spent on each.
Having an open curriculum means that students have the freedom to choose courses that reflect their interests or skills and help to develop them further. At the same time, they can fulfill the faculty’s expectation that they study broadly across the liberal arts. Most colleges have a core curriculum or distribution requirements that enable them to focus on their academic process and look forward to achieving desired results in the long run.
According to an assignment writing service UK, learning with an open curriculum is just like being in a class where everyone is there because they are genuinely interested in the subject and not because they have to get a degree. In such an environment, the learning process becomes more fun and interesting, and students are highly motivated too.
Open Curriculum – What Is It?
Friends studying outdoor
An open curriculum has lesser distribution and other requirements. The students often have the option to come up with their programs of study, majors, or concentrations that make it easy for them to choose their career path. It does not, by any means, indicate that students will not have to take any classes or work hard for the credits. There will be requirements for their major, even if they are designing their course, but there are fewer of them as compared to other colleges and universities.
There are many open-curriculum colleges where the students are required to write a proposal or thesis about their work. It is specifically necessary if they are designing their majors or programs. There are also cases when students who are not fulfilling their major requirements have the option of receiving a general degree, such as a Liberal Arts degree. However, this plan is generally seen as a last resort, and if the students have to choose an open-curriculum college, they must be prepared to choose a major or create their own.
The best thing about an open curriculum program is that it enables students to remain in control of their learning and can be beneficial to self-motivated students. If students are unable to decide which majors to take, these programs offer them the freedom to explore different and new possibilities. At the same time, it is necessary to understand that this option always does not work for students, especially those who lack motivation or are not self-driven. They might not be able to take full advantage of the freedom and flexibility these programs offer and may encounter other problems that affect their performance in the long run.
It is necessary to note the difference between open and core curriculum. Schools that have a core curriculum require students to take certain classes regardless of their major or school with a college or university. A core curriculum differs from distribution requirements. It means students must take a certain number of courses in a department or designation, such as four math or science courses without which they will not get their degree.
Students can receive feedback on composition, form, and content, and pursue substantive revision if they need any further help from their teachers. They expect the students to excel in quantitative and symbolic reasoning by completing one or more courses to help students move forward.
Open Curriculum In A Nutshell:
No specific individual course requirements – The students can choose their courses, with time limits, and they will all contribute towards the degree. It makes it easy for bright and motivated students to graduate on time.
No distribution requirements – Most colleges require one, two, sometimes three semesters of Math, Science, Foreign Language, and Social Studies, much like high schools require these subjects to earn a diploma.
No requirements for a major – students can go for a self-designed academic paper, which eliminates the need for choosing any major being offered by the college. With the help of an open curriculum, the students can design their own major without any difficulty.
The open curriculum helps students be the masters of their own fate. They can be the architect of their education and responsible for their education, intellectual and creative development. Most undergraduates sample courses in a range of subjects before diving into one of any of the offered academic concentrations for in-depth, detailed study.
According to an assignment help firm, an open curriculum can result in a vibrant intellectual environment that keeps the students engaged as they explore courses in any or every discipline. It gives them a chance to think creatively and to develop innovative solutions to critical issues that help them immensely in their future lives when they choose their professions and need to give their best efforts. Students opting for an open curriculum are prepared to thrive as independent, innovative leaders no matter what path they choose when they building a self-directed course of study.
With an open curriculum system, the students do not need to fight over-enrollment spots. It is because five different majors are not required for a single class. On the contrary, the students are encouraged to take courses of interest to them, and not getting a specific class will not make much of a difference for them. It is up to the students to study about open curriculum in-depth before they proceed to admissions and dedicate themselves to study so that they take the wisest decision for their academic and professional careers and enjoy smooth sailing to their goals.
