Learning Frameworks
Parallel Curriculum
Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson
The Parallel Curriculum Model (PCM) was developed by Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson in an attempt to take lessons to a more inclusive level. The biggest advantage of this curriculum model is that it "can be adapted for any learner, subject domain, or grade level."
The four dimensions of PCM, Core Curriculum (Klein Essential Standard Curriculum), Curriculum of Connections, Curriculum of Practice, and Curriculum of Identity, can be used in any combination or individually.
Curriculum of Connections
The curriculum of connections is concerned with making connections between different disciplines of knowledge. An example of this would be using the information you gathered in a science lesson to create charts and graphs during a math lesson.
Curriculum of Practice
The curriculum of practice is concerned with putting the knowledge the students are learning into an authentic experience. Students are encouraged to take on the roles of professionals that would use the information they are learning in certain career fields. For instance, students could take on the roles of government officials when studying city planning. The teacher could assign the students a job planning a new city and the students would need to use the knowledge they gained through instruction to act as city planners and complete the activity.
Curriculum of Identity
The curriculum of identity is concerned with helping the students reflect on themselves as practitioners of a particular discipline. Through reflection, students gain a stronger sense of self. The curriculum of identity helps students understand themselves better by asking them to ruminate on how they felt taking on roles of professionals. The goal of this curriculum is to encourage students to use metacognition to understand how well their talents served them during a particular activity. This can build self-confidence and give the students an idea of how suited they are for certain careers.
The nature of the Parallel Curriculum Model makes it very easy to use within a single classroom. Regular classroom teachers can choose to incorporate any one or more of the curricula in a particular lesson or unit. If the classroom teacher is very passionate about the Parallel Curriculum Model, he or she could use one or more of the curricula for every lesson.