APPROACHES TO CURRICULUM ORGANIZATION

SUBMITTED BY
JISHI .P.K
B.ED NATURAL SCIENCE
MAR THEOPHILUS TRAINING COLLEGE,
NALANCHIRA
DATE: 29-06-2014 TRIVANDRUM









INTRODUCTION

Curriculum derived from latin word CURRERE which means TO RUN.
Curriculum is That what is taught in school, A set of subjects, content, A
programme of studies, A set of materials, A sequence of courses, A set of
performance objectives, A course of study, Everything that is planned by
school personnel. The curriculum organization is the process of selecting
curriculum elements from the subject, , the current social life and the students
experience then designing the selected curriculum elements appropriately so
they can form curriculum structure and type.








In curriculum organization, the content should be arranged in a systematic
manner. Here follows a discussion of the various method on organising and
arranging the curriculum.
A. TOPICAL APPROACH
Every subject of study involves a number of topics. A topic is a
comprehensive collection of related learning materials pertaining to
specific area of the subject, systematically and sequentially so as to get a
holistic pictures of those aspects. There are a large number of concepts ,
principles , processes and skills associated with this area, which act as
related parts of a whole. Since these aspects are inter related and
maintain certain logical sequences and correlations . It is often advised
that the topic should be thoroughly dealt with and mastered before
passing on to another topic. This is known as the topical approach in the
curriculum. A topic may be so complex and might a large number of
items of varied difficulty.
B. SUBJECT CENTERED APPROACH
It gives importance to content of subject. In this approach , subjects are
placed seperately like water tight compartments, without any inter
linking. Facts and concept are presented in a systematic manner. All
activities of the schools are organized around subject centered techniques.
It ensures effective learning.
C. CONCENTRIC APPROACH
The whole curriculum is spread over a number of years. A general
treatment of almost all the topics are attempted at the beginning and it is
developed into successive years according to the mental development of
the pupils. In the beginning of the course , the whole aspects is given to
pupils in a simplified way . In the next year more and more details of its
parts are added to their mental development. It follows the maxims of
teaching such as from whole to part , simple to complex , easy to difficult
etc. Among educationists of modern times , Bruner is the main exponent
of this approach as he thinks that discovery learning is possible only if
this approach is maintained. Sometimes this approach is referred to as
concentric approach.
Example : A topic in Biology- Living Things
Ist year : How do plants and animals live ?
IInd year : How do living things differ ?
IIIrd year : How do plants and animals live and grow ?
IVth year :How do we classify the plants and animals we see
around us ?
Vth year : How are plants and animals bodies different ?
What do rocks tell us about plants and animals?


D. SPIRAL APPROACH

The term spiral gives the additional implication that while attempting
gradation the linkage too is taken care of and the continuity of the topic
concerned is never broken.







Spiral approach





E. INTEGRATED APPROACH

Give importance to integration of subjects. Different subjects are
combined together.



REFERENCES:

Dr.k .Sivarajan
Prof.A.Faziluddin
Science Education
Methodolgy of Teaching and Pedagogic analysis , Physical
Science and Natural Science

Dr. Renuka Sonny L.R
Teaching of Natural Science

www.slideshare.net/msmaybelle/curriculum-organization