UNDERSTANDING CURRICULUM

Key concepts to understand curriculum

Definition 1: Curriculum is the permanent subject that embody essential knowledge such as Mathematics, Chemistry and Grammar etc. It assumed what is studied is what is learned It does not address anything about knowledge change.

Definition 2: Curriculum is those subjects that are most useful for living in contemporary
society The curriculum are usually chosen in terms of major present day issues and problems within society . Does not preclude individual students from making their own choices about which subjects are most useful

Rothstein, Wilder and Jacobsen (2007) a balanced curriculum should be concerned about contemporary living skills such as critical thinking, project based learning and social skills This definition imply that what is contemporary has more value than what is long-lasting. Encourage students and schools to accommodate themselves to society as it exist instead of attempting to improve it

Definition 3 : Curriculum is all planned learnings for which the school is responsible Planned learnings can be long written documents specifying content, shorter list of intended learning outcomes, or simply the general ideas of teachers about what students should know. Exponents of curriculum as a plan include Saylor, Alexander and Lewis (1981) and Posner (1998)

This definition seems to assume that what is studied is learned It may limit planned learnings achieve, not those that are most desirable Armstrong (2007) suggest that education policy-makers

Definition 4 : Curriculum is the totality of learning experiences provided to students so that they can attain general skills and knowledge at a variety of learning sites. Longstreet and Shane (1993) refer to four major conception of curriculum: society-oriented curriculum, student-centered curriculum, knowledge-centered curriculum and eclectic curriculum. Emphasis on learning rather than teaching,especially learning skills and knowledge

 Kennedy (2005) concludes that a curriculum which only focuses on key competencies for the world of paid employment is deficient. The curriculum should include a full range of skills and competencies relevant throughout the life span. Reid (2007) wider view of competencies-communication, civic, health and well-being

Definition 5: Curriculum is what the student constructs from working with the computer and its various networks, such as the internet Modern definition because computer is everywhere Pinar (2004) information is not knowledge, of course and without ethical and intellectual judgment-which cannot be programmed into a machine. Budin (1999) reminds us that technology is not a neutral tool

Definition 6 : Curriculum is the questioning of authority and the searching for complex view of human situations Curriculum today moving towards many directions