Author(s)

S. Mecca

Abstract

Systems thinking has been likened to a science of organizing complexity. Few problems in education have the elements of complexity as that of curriculum. Indeed, within the educational system, the subsystem, curriculum, presents us with a design- or problem solving- challenge that requires tools and approaches that have yet to be fully explored. This paper discusses the basic systems elements of curriculum design and management and highlights the problem underlying the development of curricula that are based on networks of learning standards and benchmarks. Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy [1] is used as an example of such interconnected learning benchmarks. The first of a suite of tools, TraxLiteracy [2], which tracks benchmarks, curriculum activity blocks and student achievement is used to illustrate the dimensions of the problem an

Keywords