Whether working inside a school building or in a major corporation, there are a number of types of jobs in curriculum development that are both challenging and rewarding professionally. With a variety of options to choose in order to gain the education and experience required to enter into this field, professionals in curriculum development will be well-prepared to be successful in a number of different work environments and meet each objective.
Developing Curriculum in Schools
There are many different possibilities for working in curriculum development in schools, beginning at the early childhood education, elementary, and secondary levels of education. In these environments, curriculum developers work closely with teachers and administrators to identify course objectives, assignments, and texts that will help students to gain the knowledge and skill needed to move forward in education. Roles might include a curriculum development specialist or curriculum development director.
These same roles are also found in post-secondary institutions. In these roles, professionals often design entire courses for instructors to implement and ensure that each class is meeting department objectives and outcomes. This is particularly important in many developmental and first-year course sequences. In addition to roles as a director or specialist within a department, colleges and universities also often have an overall curriculum development chair to implement training for instructors and other staff.
Textbooks and Testing
Curriculum developers play an important role in creating textbooks and testing materials as well. One key skill that professionals in this field bring to this particular position is the ability to develop materials that align with outcomes of a course, class, or subject at various grade levels. Standardized tests are a part of curriculum development at this level as well.
Corporate Training
Outside of a school environment, corporate curriculum development is increasingly becoming a part of corporate culture. Curriculum developers often work in human resource roles, preparing training materials, presentations, and other elements to disseminate important information on everything from safety to procedures and policies. Curriculum developers in these roles often hold weekly or monthly training sessions with different departments, oversee initial employee on-boarding, and evaluate assessments to ensure that information is properly put into practical application.
Government Agencies and Programs
Like the corporate environment, government agencies require ongoing training of employees. Systems and processes often change, and curriculum developers are able to develop materials to help government agency employees understand the changes and gain the skills needed to complete the processes. For some government agencies and non-profit organizations, working with youth is also a key component, and many after-school and similar programs employ curriculum developers to create material for these programs. Curriculum developers also often supervise and oversee these programs.
More on positions in curriculum development can be found at the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Related Resource: Degree Needed To Teach Preschool
Developing a curriculum requires the ability to set objectives and outcomes for a course or training program and visualize the materials and steps needed for students and trainees to achieve the desired end result. The various types of jobs in curriculum development are essential to all types of educational programs, setting the foundation for students, employees, and officials to continue to move forward to meet their own goals.
