Understanding

what is
Curriculum
Struggle to Define

Curriculum is such “permanent”

subjects as grammar, reading, logic,
rhetoric, mathematics, and the
greatest books of the Western world
that best embody essential
knowledge.
Curriculum is Curriculum is all
those subjects planned
that are most learnings for
useful for living which the school
in contemporary is responsible.
society
Curriculum is all Curriculum is the
the experiences totality of
learners have learning
under the experiences
guidance of the provided to
school. students so that
they can attain
general skills
and knowledge
at a variety of
learning sites.
Curriculum is Curriculum is the
what the student questioning of
constructs from authority and the
working with the searching for
computer and its complex views of
various human
networks, such situations.
as the Internet.
Curriculum

Refers to Is “what to
programmatic teach”
goals or targets
for instruction.
Curriculum is all Curriculum is an
the experiences interrelated set
that learners of plans and
have in the experiences that
course of living. a student
undertakes
under the
guidance of the
school
The word curriculum comes from the
Latin word currere - literal meaning
the racecourse, thus curriculum
means to run the course or to follow
one’s path.
Curriculum – singular
Curricula – plural
All the learning which is
planned and guided by the
school, whether it is carried on
in groups or individually,
inside or outside the school.
How are these definitions similar to yours…

Portelli (1987) in “Perspectives and

imperatives on defining curriculum” notes
that more than 120 definitions of curriculum
exist in the educational literature.

Commonality in definitions…
Learning is planned and guided.
The definition refers to schooling.
Relationship of Curriculum and
Instruction

Instruction is HOW the

curriculum is delivered to
students
Is it really possible to separate
curriculum from instruction or is
instruction a necessary part of
curriculum?
Levels of Curriculum
Based on how far the learner is from
the source of the decisions made
about the curriculum.
Societal- political
Institutional- local educators and
laypeople
InstructionaI- teachers plan and deliver
Experiential- perceived and experienced
by students
Technical Approach
Rational Logical Process
Typically a committee of state
leaders, teachers and industry
personnel
Assumes the teacher will accept the
revisions
Evaluation is based on the
faithfulness of the implementers
Use is called implementation
Technical Approach
Nonrational Process
Implementers (teachers) collaborate
with developers
This adaptation gives the teachers a
feeling of ownership
Evaluation is based on meeting the
intended purposes of the curriculum
and the implementers actual use of
the curriculum
Use is called implementation
Non-technical Approach

Based on the individual needs of the

student or society
The teacher makes the decisions as
the subject is taught
Evaluation is based on meeting its
intended purpose
Use is called enactment
Curriculum consists of matters
that:
students and teachers attend
together (courses and programs)
have been generally recognized as
important and students are held
accountable (competencies and
objectives)
are organized in time and space
(scope and sequence)
Five Concepts of Curriculum
Subjects offered for study/ course
descriptions
Educational activities/instructional lessons
Intended learning/competencies and
objectives
Students actual experiences
What students actually learn/ (learning
outcomes), subject matter and ancillary
learning
Other Definitions

Curriculum Development- recreating

or modifying what is taught
Curriculum Evaluation- guides
decision making, serves
accountability needs, and promotes
understanding of the curriculum
Curriculum Guides- include teaching
goals and instructional strategies
Courses of study, syllabi, or
blueprints- specify the content, the
learning outcomes and time
allocations
Hidden - Implicit – Experienced
curriculum
Null curriculum – that which is not
taught
Planned – Explicit Curriculum
Enacted Curriculum – what actually
happens in the classroom
The joy of learning is as
indispensable in study as breathing is
in running. Where it is lacking there
are no real students, but only poor
caricatures of apprentices who, at the
end of their apprenticeship, will not
even have a trade.
Simone Weil
It is the supreme art of the teacher to
awaken joy in creative expression
and knowledge.
Albert Einstein
And one silly quote just for fun....

Never try to teach a pig to sing....it

wastes your time and annoys the
pig.
Anonymous