Living Curriculum Change: Supporting Teacher-Led Change in British Columbia, Canada

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 63
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers and Unions Leading the Way! Teacher-Led Change, Decision Making, and Professional Learning

Abstract

The Province of British Columbia, Canada, is in an intensified period of curriculum change. Initiated by the provincial Ministry of Education, revisions have been undertaken since 2013 by teams of teachers appointed by the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and other key stakeholders. During this period, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) has gathered structured feedback from teachers on the state of curriculum change. This paper summarizes this feedback, highlighting shared concerns such as adequate resources, support and time for implementation. Recognizing a critical gap in understanding the process of curriculum change from the teacher’s perspective, the paper proposes five areas for ongoing inquiry and concludes with three recommendations for taking forward teacher-led curriculum change in BC.

Authors

• Andree Elizabeth Gacoin, British Columbia Teachers' Federation

• Janice M Neden, British Columbia Teacher's Federation

• Larry Kuehn, British Columbia Teachers' Federation

• Anne Catherine Hales, British Columbia Teachers' Federation

• Sherri A Brown, British Columbia Teachers' Federation