Curriculum Development Presentation: Hilda Taba

Presented by Nadine Spencer-Elize

• Educator pursuing teacher certification at Southern Adventist University
• Course: Curriculum Development for Multi-Age Classroom
• Purpose: To inform educators about Hilda Taba, a significant curriculum theorist

About Hilda Taba

• Born in Estonia in 1902
• Education:
  • Graduate degrees from Tartu University
  • Master's degree at Burne-Moor College
  • PhD at Teachers College, Columbia University
• Career:
  • Applied for a professorship at Tartu University but was denied
  • Returned to the US and served in various academic roles
  • Ultimately returned to classroom teaching

Objectives of the Presentation

1. Explore Taba's theory of curriculum development
2. Identify Taba's impact on current educational practices
3. Understand Taba's influence on educational practices

Taba's Theory of Curriculum Development

• Known as the inverted model
• Begins with a needs assessment of the community and school
• Steps:
  • Needs assessment
  • Formulation of specific objectives
  • Content selection
  • Content organization
  • Evaluation
  • Check for balance and sequence
• Involves teachers in curriculum development, promoting commitment and ownership
• Encourages supportive and cooperative classroom environments
• Focuses on teaching children to think, process information, and solve problems

Impact on Current Educational Practices

• Key Concepts:
  • Spiral curriculum: Revisiting key concepts throughout grades
  • Organized instructional strategies
  • Cognitive and affective domains involvement
• Teaching and Learning Activities:
  • Organized around concepts and ideas
  • Sequence from information intake to organization to application
• Reflective of Total Quality Management (TQM):
  • Emphasizes customer satisfaction and continuous improvement

Legacy

• Passed away in 1967
• Continues to influence curriculum development and teaching methodologies