An Integrative Approach to Curriculum Development in Higher Education in the USA: A Theoretical Framework

Abstract

The role of curriculum in higher education is sine quo non for the provision of quality and relevant educational programs and services to the current and potential learners in the USA and elsewhere in the world. Regardless of sizes, types or origins, curriculum is considered the heart and soul of all educational institutions. Curriculum is crucial for the well-being and effectiveness of higher education (Barnett & Coate, 2005) both in the short and long-term. Lamentably, it is a widely recognized notion in academia that the approach to developing curriculum is disintegrated in that minimal and isolated considerations are given to the various critical elements such as institutional leadership, social trends, industry factor and the role of the government. Therefore, this paper is dedicated to the study of existing literature on an integrative approach to curriculum development as a source of relevant, timely and comprehensive knowledge management in institutions of higher education with a particular reference to the USA.

Meta-evaluation of History and English Language Pedagogy Study Programme with Focus on Transformational Learning

“…Aukštosiose mokyklose kuriamos ir perteikiamos žinios, kurios rengia besimokančiuosius darbui realiame gyvenime, taip darydamos sėkmingą įtaką rinkai ir visuomenei. Taigi aukštosios mokyklos privalo atsakingai daryti esminius pokyčius studijų programose, numatytose esantiems ir būsimiems studentams (Khan, Law, 2015). Švietimo ir ugdymo studijų krypčių grupės apraše (2015) reikia pažymėti ir transformuojamojo ugdymo sąlygas, pvz., padėti susikurti asmeninę motyvaciją ir formuluoti mokymosi bei asmeninius tikslus, ugdyti besimokančiųjų savarankiškumo bei savarankiško mokymosi gebėjimus (25.3 str.…”

“…B. Davis ir D. Sumara apibrėžia pastarąjį fenomeną ne kaip paprastą besimokančiųjų grupę (angl. Dėmesys besimokančiųjų žinioms ir patirčiai, kaip ir tinkamų mokymosi aplinkų, technologijų ir veiklų parinkimas, studijų programą padaro orientuotą į besimokantįjį, įdomesnę, inovatyvesnę (Khan, Law, 2015), patrauklesnę bei sudaro prielaidas transformuojamajam ugdymui(si).…”

A Theoretical Analysis of Factors Influencing the Decision of Faculty to Use Educational Technologies in the Context of Institutions of Higher Education

“…Furthermore, literature review based studies helps the researcher and readers to be knowledgeable and understand the research problem better (Leedy, 1989). Furthermore, literature review based studies are also helpful in establishing theoretical grounds for research, identify gabs in the existing knowledge and weaknesses in previous research, discovers connections or other relations between different research results by comparing various investigations (Bless & Higson-Smith, 2000;Khan, Law, 2015). However, this is a descriptive study involving a type of document analysis and secondary research based on textual information.…”

“…The study provides a theoretical foundation and understanding of the issues facing educational institutions in implementing new educational technologies. Research methodologists appreciate the role of literature review based studies in establishing the need for further research while broadening the horizons of the researcher and preventing the researcher from conducting research that already exists (Aitchison, 1998;Khan & Law, 2015). Furthermore, literature review based studies helps the researcher and readers to be knowledgeable and understand the research problem better (Leedy, 1989).…”

“…However, this is a descriptive study involving a type of document analysis and secondary research based on textual information. Some researchers question the validity and reliability of recommendations of such studies since the origin of the information needs scrutiny and critical evaluation (Khan & Law, 2015). Future studies on factors influencing the faculty decision to use educational technology to support teaching strategies should involve quantitative analysis using…”