On March 14, 2024, Demetrious Nicolaides, Alberta’s Minister of Education, announced a new draft K-12 Subject Overview and a new draft K-6 Social Studies curriculum. Albertans have been waiting on this draft since December 2021, when the March 2021 draft was repealed following extensive – and justified – criticism that included concerns that content was… Continue reading Minister Nicolaides, It’s time to listen
(Note: This post is best viewed on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer). Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, initially developed by Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues in the 1950s, is a framework for categorizing educational goals and objectives (Bloom et al., 1956). While an older reference such as this might appear to be no longer… Continue reading An Analysis of the K-6 Social Studies Draft Curriculum “Skills & Procedures” through the lens of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives
It's time to debunk curriculum-making myths in Alberta. Again. If this post doesn't convince people that these persistent myths are wrong, nothing will.
As a former social studies educator and curriculum specialist with more than 40 years experience as a classroom teacher in Alberta and an Education Faculty member at the University of Alberta, it is clear to me that the current draft version of the social studies curriculum is a retrograde document that is wholly inappropriate in its structure, content and objectives.
How do I know if a curriculum is well developed? What questions should I ask about a curriculum in order to identify its strengths and weaknesses? What are the different elements of a curriculum? Read on...
When much of the world is moving toward concept- and competency-based curricula, Alberta is retreating to a curriculum that is about accumulating bits and pieces of information, not deep understanding. In this post, I offer some high-level observations along with a heavily marked up copy of the K-2 portion of the curriculum.
On November 13th, 2020, the following letter was sent to Premier Jason Kenney and Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange. Over 300 academics, history professionals, and others signed it in support.
Alberta, once a leader in Social Studies education, will be reduced to a laughing stock if the proposed curriculum revisions become a reality.
As more people look into C.P. Champion's qualifications - or lack thereof - it becomes clearer and clearer that he should not be in a position to advise the Minister of Education in Alberta (or anywhere for that matter).
Reflections on one of the experts advising Minister LaGrange.
Carla L. Peck, PhD 