K-12 Curriculum Development

Dr. Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was asked to give a lecture as part of the university’s annual lecture series.  About the same time he was approached about the lecture, doctors had diagnosed him with terminal cancer.  As he reflected on his childhood, his education, and the countless students he had taught, he developed The Last Lecture.  While this blog typically features curriculum books, Dr. Pausch shares several lessons that can be learned about curriculum development and the purpose for being an educator.  This book is inspirational and thought-provoking.

As we reflect on life, each of us can remember a barrier that stood in our way.  Dr. Pausch reminds us that even if we don’t find a way around the barrier we can still learn from our experiences.  He wrote, “brick walls are there for a reason.  They give us a chance to show how badly we want something” (p. 79).  K-12 curriculum developers need to remember the benefits of a challenging curriculum.  It is easy to focus on a mastery curriculum, rather than stretching students and helping them see problems from multiple perspectives.

Chapter four is titled, Enabling the Dreams of Others.  As Dr. Pausch describes, “It’s a thrill to fulfill your own childhood dreams, but as you get older, you may find that enabling the dreams of others is even more fun” (p. 115).  Sometimes students don’t realize their dreams until later in life.  However, they will look back on the time spent with an inspiring elementary school teacher or a series of teachers who challenged their thinking and changed their life.  

One of his dreams in life was to work for Walt Disney as an Imagineer.  During The Last Lecture he was able to share how this dream was fulfilled.  He also wrote, “Walt Disney’s dream for Disney World was that it would never be finished” (p. 127).  Curriculum development should be viewed as a process, rather than a product.  If K-12 curriculum developers take the approach that curriculum will never be finished, then they will constantly strive to make the curriculum rigorous, relevant and differentiated.

Since time is finite, Dr. Pausch asks readers, “Are you spending your time on the right things” (p. 108)?  When educators analyze curriculum maps, they are able to determine if key concepts and skills are being taught.  They are also able to modify the pacing of a course in order to meet the needs of students.  This is a key question for every human being and it is a question that curriculum developers and collaborative teams should ask on a regular basis.

The last lecture was delivered on September 18, 2007.  Dr. Pausch lost his battle to cancer on July 25, 2008.  You may watch The Last Lecture at www.thelastlecture.com.  The Last Lecture Educator’s Guide and other online resources are also available.  Please feel free to share your thoughts on The Last Lecture.



Pausch, R., & Zaslow, J. (2008). The last lecture. New York:
       Hyperion.