How to Guarantee You Are Using a Deep Knowledge Curriculum (Nathaniel Swain)

In some schools, curriculum is prescribed. In other places, teachers put together their own learning materials.

In either case, how do we know that what we are providing students, in terms of materials and content, will promote learning acquisition, extend thinking, and foster creativity? How do we know that it aligns with the science of learning?

In this episode, my guest Nathanial Swain, professor of teaching at La Trobe University and author of the book "Harnassing the Science of Learning", discuss the elements that should be in any knowledge rich curriculum.

We discuss the importance, in particular, of knowledge curriculum that incorporates retrieval practice and spiraling of content (i.e. Ancient Egypt) as well as life skills from year to year. A quality curriculum also supports aligned vocabulary development, and serves as both a mirror on student lives as well as a window onto the external world.

Equally important, we discuss the importance of quality curriculum to all students but, particularly, to those children in marginalized and/or economically impacted communities.

Nathaniel Swain Web Page

Harnessing the Science of Learning Book

Core Knowledge Foundation

Knowledge Matters

Think Forward Educators

Momentum Schools Project

Music - Aylex