NOTETAKING GUIDES: THE FIELD OF CURRICULUM

The Field of Curriculum

"It is important that those who are constructing our school curriculum shall maintain an overview of the total situation . . ."

Curriculum Defined

• What are the two accepted meanings of curriculum?

Curriculum Defined

• As a Program of Studies
• As Course Content
• As Planned Learning Experiences
• As Experiences "Had" under the Auspices of the School
• As a Structured Series of Intended Learning Outcomes
• As a Written Plan for Action

Curriculum Defined

• A field of study
• A plan for the education of learners
• Total plan
• A document

Origin of Term Curriculum

• Greek - meaning "race course"

Domains of Curriculum

• Curriculum Development
• Curriculum Design

Curriculum Development

• Involves planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Constructing the curriculum.
• A logical step-by-step procedure based on behavioral or managerial approaches to curriculum and rooted in scientific principles of education.

Curriculum Design

• Refers to the way we conceptualize the curriculum and arrange its major components (subject matter content and learning experiences) to provide direction and guidance as we develop the curriculum.
• Involved as a part of curriculum development.
• Uses theory and models.

Comparative View

• Program of Studies vs Curriculum
• Course Titles vs Content

Curriculum Definition

• "All the experiences which are offered to learners under the auspices or direction of the school."

Hidden Curriculum

• Teachers or trainers personal values, i.e., work, charity, etc.

Difference between Curriculum and Instruction?

• Implementation
• There are no lesson plan in a curriculum.
• A curriculum provides directions to teachers and trainers.

Curriculum Foundations

• Basic forces that shape the content and organization of the curriculum.

Various Approaches to Curriculum Development (Foundations)

• Behavioral
• Managerial
• Systems
• Academic
• Humanistic
• Reconceptualist

Behavioral Viewpoint

• Oldest, still the major approach.
• Relies on technical and scientific principles.
• Includes paradigms, model, and step-by-step strategies.
• Goals and objectives are specified.
• Content and activities are sequenced based on objectives.
• Learning outcomes are evaluated based on goals and objectives.

Managerial Viewpoint

• Curriculum planned in terms of programs, schedules, space, resources and equipment, and personnel.
• Committee/group process, human relations, leadership styles and methods, and decision- making are considered.
• Relies on a plan, rational principles, logical steps (not necessarily behavioral approaches).
• Focuses on supervisory and administrative aspects of curriculum.

Systems Viewpoint

• Influenced by systems theory, systems analysis, and systems engineering.
• Used extensively by the military, government and business.
• Brings together components of planning, programming, and budgeting.

Academic Viewpoint

• Referred to as the traditional, encyclopedic, synoptic, intellectual, and knowledge oriented.
• Tends to be historical or philosophical and social to some degree.
• Concerned with the broad aspects of schooling, including a historical approach to education.

Humanistic Viewpoint

• Rooted in progressive philosophy - child centered (what is good for the child).
  Curriculum activities concerned with life experiences, group games, group projects, learning and interest centers, creative problem solving, and active learning.

Reconceptualist Viewpoint

• Lacks a model for developing or designing curriculum.
• Focuses on larger ideological and moral issues of education.
• More of a political philosophy that a curriculum approach.
• School is seen as an extension of society.
• Purpose of curriculum ought to be emancipatory but is really controlling and preserving the existing order.

Successful Curriculum Practioners

• Can select and organize:
  • goals and objectives
  • subject matter
  • methods, materials, and media
  • learning experiences and activities
  • evaluation techniques

Overall Impression

• Does there appear to be some confusion about the area of curriculum development?
• Can curriculum work be undertaken?