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Lesson and unit plans designed by preservice teachers who developed their plans using the backward design model or a traditional model of curriculum design were compared. Two independent raters scored 153 lesson and unit plans developed by preservice teachers in two different sections of Educational Planning and Management. The plans were evaluated using Danielson's Framework for Professional Practice by means of six components: demonstrating knowledge of content and pedagogy, demonstrating knowledge of students, selecting suitable instructional goals, demonstrating knowledge of resources, designing coherent instruction, and assessing student learning. Results included evidence that preservice teachers who were taught curriculum design using the backward design model outperformed preservice teachers who were taught curriculum design using a traditional model on all six components.
On Saturday, March 2. 2002, President Bush pledged to work to enlist a new generation of well-trained teachers to help America's children succeed in school. Highlighting his educational agenda, Bush said in his weekly radio address: "The effectiveness of all education reform eventually comes down to a good teacher in a classroom A good teacher can literally make a lifelong difference" (Associated Press, 2002, p. A3). In 2002 Bush approved nearly three billion dollars from the education budget to be used for teacher training, recruiting, and hiring. If federal funds are going to be spent on educational reform and teacher training, it would be imperative to know on what training contents money should be spent.
The improvement of our nation's educational system is under greater scrutiny than ever before because of Bush's educational agenda. When designing curriculum, a vital component of teacher training, h is important to determine which curricular design process is effective to allow for the teacher to demonstrate knowledge of content and pedagogy, demonstrate knowledge of students, select suitable instructional goals, demonstrate knowledge of resources, design coherent instruction, and assess student learning, components of planning and preparation tasks required of beginning teachers (Danielson, 1996). These six components include those aspects of teaching that are expected of experienced as well as beginning teachers. Therefore, it is critical that when planning and preparing curriculum, future educators employ the curriculum process that best incorporates these six components of effective teaching.
The field of curriculum development is not static; new procedures are being...