This document provides an overview of curriculum past and present. It discusses synthesizing learning from coursework on quality teaching and applying it to the 21st century classroom. Symbols and frameworks of learning are compared, such as schools being like factories. Curriculum experts from Dewey to Freire are mentioned. A timeline activity examines curriculum progress. Paradigms including traditionalism and progressivism are discussed. The focus is on synthesizing understandings of curriculum, both historically and for the future.