ASSIGNMENT

AKHILA VIJAYAN
B.Ed MATHEMATICS
N.S.S TRAINING COLLEGE
PANDALAM

THE CONCEPT OF CURRICULUM

Curriculum

crux

of

the

whole

educational process. Without curriculum, we cannot conceive

any educational endeavour School curriculum of country, likes
its constitution, reflects the ethos of that country. We have seen
that mathematics is taught to pupils, as it would help to realize
certain values and aims by which they could become better in
individuals.

The

mathematics

curriculum

is

the

medium

required for the purpose. Every mathematics teacher has to get

a clear and thorough knowledge about the meaning, function,
foundation and types of a good mathematics curriculum
together

with

the

principles

for

its

development

and

transaction.

The term curriculum is derived from latin word currere

which means path. In this sense the curriculum is the path
through which the students has to go forward inorder to reach
the goal envisaged by education. Usually the term curriculum is
understood as a group subjects prescribed for study in a
particular course. But curriculum is confined to this narrow
concept. Curriculum should in no way be considered as
synonymous with courses of study. The courses of study do list
much of the content to be learnt and indicate some of the
major activities but these form only part of the curriculum.
Curriculum should considered as a broad based term
encompassing every aspect concerning a course of study.
Curriculum for a course of study may be conceived as the

totality of experiences a pupil is exposed to within the

boundaries of the school and outside while undergoing that
course , with a view to achieve the anticipated educational
goals. The mathematics curriculum is the medium required for
the purpose. As such, every mathematics teacher as to get a
clear and through knowledge about the meaning, function,
foundations and types of a good mathematics curriculum
together

with

the

principles

for

its

development

and

transaction.

Having a consistent value of teaching is always important

for a good education system. Therefore, curriculum can always
be found in both eastern and western education system.
However,

with

curriculum,

different

attitudes

interpretation
and

values

towards

towards

the

term

pedagogical

approach may vary, which in turn affects how students learn in

schools.

DEFINITION OF CURRICULUM

Curriculum is a tool in the hands of an artist to mould his

materials [pupils] according to his ideals [objectives] in
his studio [school].-Arthur Cunningham

 Curriculum embodies all the experiences, which are

utilized by the school to attain the aims of education. Munroe

Curriculum is made up of everything that surrounds the

learner in all his working hours. H.L. LA swell

Curriculum is the means for achieving the

goals of education. It includes all those experiences,
activities and environmental influences, which the student
receives during his educational career, for the realization of a
variety of anticipated goals.

Under some definitions , curriculum is prescriptive, and is

based on a more general syllabus which merely specifies
what topics must be under stood and to what level to
achieve a particular grade or standard .

CRITICAL PEDAGOGY

Critical pedagogy is a philosophy of education and social

movement that combines education with critical theory. First
described by Paulo Freire, it has since been developed by
Henry Giroux and others as a praxis oriented educational
movement, guided by passion and principle, to help students
develop consciousness of freedom,
recognize authoritarian tendencies , and connect knowledge
to power and the ability to take constructive action.

Critical pedagogy consider how education can provide

individuals with the tools to better themselves strengthen
democracy , to create a more egalitarian and just society,
and thus display in a process of progressive social change.
Media literacy involves teaching the skills that will empower
citizens and students to become sensitive to the politics of
representations of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class,

and other cultural differences in order to foster critical

thinking and enhance democratization.critical media literacy
aims to make viewers and readers more critical and
discriminating readers and producers of texts.

Critical media pedagogy provides students and citizens with

the tools to analyse critically how texts are constructed and
in turn construct and position viewers and readers. It
provides tools so that individuals can dissect the instruments
of cultural dominations, transform themselves from objects
to subjects, from passive to active. Thus critical media
literacy is empowering, enabling students to become critical
producers of meanings and texts , able to resist manipulation
and domination .

Critical pedagogy signals how questions of ordains, voice,

power, and evaluation actively work to construct particular
relations between teachers and students, institutions and
society, and classrooms and communities. Pedagogy in the
critical sense illuminates the relationship among knowledge,
authority, and power.

We focus on a critical pedagogy in teacher education

because of the goal of repairing citizens for participation in a
democratic society. Critical pedagogy is teaching approach
inspired . In order to understand how critical pedagogy can

be applied and how it may be demonstrated in the class

room. Understanding that critical pedagogy is a movement in
which in education it empowers students and teachers to
recognize

hegemony

tendencies

by

developing

consciousness social justice and connecting the knowledge

to taken action and creating change.

Critical pedagogy

encourages students to respond to texts not just a literacy

critics, but as politically aware members of acommunity.

Critical pedagogy is also valuable means of helping students

to interact with their communities more effectively. By
speaking in a self- expressive mode, students are able to
connect

their

own

experiences

with

those

of

theircommunities . Just as importantly, students who develop

a means for creative political expressions begin to consider
how they want their thoughts and words to affect others. As
students work to guide their own studies, to critique the
political ideologies at work in their communities, and to
develop creative dialogues with others, become active
teaching participants in their class rooms and communities
critical pedagogy, at its heart moves toward this goal.