Approach to Curriculum, Article Review Example

Introduction

Today’s educators must be able to demonstrate a mastery of many different techniques to promote high quality instruction and retention of the material. These techniques often require new behavioral strategies that are unique and non-traditional and provide students with opportunities to improve their learning. Curricular strategies with a behavioral approach require teachers to demonstrate high level knowledge and understanding of the use of behaviors that will favorably impact learning, particularly for students who struggle with traditional learning strategies. In this capacity, teachers must be able to demonstrate specific tools that will be effective in meeting student needs that include peer feedback and role playing, as these may influence academic outcomes for students in a favorable manner.

Summary

An article by Smith and Zsohar (2011) addresses the significance of a curricular model that emphasizes behavioral strategies and motivations in improving knowledge regarding health literacy. This article considers behavioral efforts such as teachback between teacher and student in order to utilize technology and other tools to promote a positive and meaningful learning environment (Smith and Zsohar, 2011). This curricular strategy is important to students because it has the potential to be highly engaging and effective in stimulating learning to a higher level (Smith and Zsohar, 2011). In this context, the student is the teacher and a patient is the peer in a nursing environment, and this enables the student to be more responsive and understanding of the environment and to patient needs (Smith and Zsohar, 2011). In this context, it is likely that student engagement will improve and will provide an opportunity to examine ideas in a different and meaningful capacity that will promote knowledge retention and focus on the student’s best interests and learning aptitude, rather than a focus on the teacher and what may or may not be a successful teaching strategy (Smith and Zsohar, 2011).

Response/Analysis

This article provides a framework for recognizing that behavioral-based curricular models and activities may be effective contributors to the learning curve and may provide additional challenges for students that will impact their academic growth in a positive manner. There are potentially significant advantages for students when teachers explore behavioral strategies, as they encourage students to be proactive in their own learning and to recognize where weaknesses might prevail that limit their progress and overall achievement. This is an important step towards the discovery of new ideas for teachers to examine that might work well within their own classrooms without creating new academic challenges for students.

Behavioral approaches to traditional curricular strategies also provide a fresh perspective in educating students who might require non-traditional means in order to achieve the desired objectives. This is an important reminder for teachers that not all strategies work the same with students and that there are significant differences in learning styles that must be addressed by teachers prior to implementing curricular approaches. Teachers must be apprised of the needs of their students and aim to determine when there might be issues of importance that shape the context of the learning curve in a positive manner. In addition, teachers must gain adequate feedback from their students and attempt to be effective communicators in supporting any behavioral approaches that are used inside and outside of the classroom setting. It is imperative that teachers reflect upon how curricular activities might have a positive or negative impact on students prior to finalizing these models and to determine the factors that are likely to be most influential in student learning.

References

Smith, J. A., & Zsohar, H. (2011). Teaching health literacy in the undergraduate curriculum: beyond traditional methods. Nursing education perspectives, 32(1), 48-50.