Curriculum

An age-old question persists amidst new standards, assessments, and needs for curriculum alignment. How can we help students gain deeper levels of understanding? To answer this question, EDC explores new frontiers in sound instructional design. With experienced teachers and students as our co-designers, we develop resources that make rigorous content relevant and accessible to all learners. Our resources strengthen content knowledge, as well as key workforce skills such as problem solving and critical thinking. We build capacity to identify, select, and implement effective curricula—knowing that powerful curricula is necessary, but not sufficient, in school reform. Learn more about our curriculum capacity in action:

Comprehensive Classroom Curricula
Digital Curricula and Instructional Resources
Curriculum-Embedded Assessment
Instructional Design for All Learners

Comprehensive Classroom Curricula

All students are naturally curious and capable learners. Guided by this belief, and drawing upon current research, we develop curricula that are academically challenging, problem-oriented, and align with current standards—including the Common Core Standards, national science and social studies standards, and state standards. To support implementation, we build teachers’ capacity to make informed instructional choices—including the use of project-based learning and inquiry—that engage students in rigorous learning and increase student achievement. A few of our initiatives:

Digital Curricula and Instructional Resources

Through research and development, we investigate how technology can support and improve what happens in classrooms. Digital curricula and instructional resources—challenging games, puzzles, Web adventures—seek to increase student engagement and motivation and enhance learning outcomes. To advance the field’s knowledge, we share our findings on how educators can effectively use these interactive learning environments to achieve their goals for students. A few of our initiatives:

Curriculum-Embedded Assessment

Assessment can play a powerful role in improving achievement. Our curricula contain effective, ongoing forms of assessment that help educators accurately identify students’ challenges and strengths. Teachers use our approaches—problem-based learning, performance tasks, portfolios, and self-assessments as well as quizzes and tests—to observe learning over time and to refine their practices to meet students’ changing needs. A few of our initiatives:

Instructional Design for All Learners

Many students—including those with disabilities and second language learners—are not engaged or well-served by traditional curricula. We believe that it is the right of all students to enjoy challenging, rigorous learning experiences. And, we believe that it is our responsibility to ensure they do. Our curriculum developers work to identify new ways to meet the needs of all learners—drawing upon universal design for learning (UDL), technology, and other methods. A few of our initiatives:

We know that curriculum in and of itself cannot meet all education reform goals. Learn about our complementary professional development, research and evaluation, and technical assistance services.