PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF CURRICULUM

Traditional Philisophy

r

focus on the pastglorifies cultural heritageemphasis on subject matterknowledge is prioritizedcognitive developmentcontrolled and restrained for societal indoctrination

Perrennialism

realism

Educate rational person

Essentialism

idealism/realism

Intellectual growth. 3 R's

Contemporary Philosphy

r

present and futureevents changeable and relativeproblem solvingstudents' interest and needs valuedequal value given to each subjectindividual expression and freedom

Progressive

pragmatic

Democratic social living

Reconstructionism

pragmaticism

Improved society

CURRICULUM DESIGN

Representative
Curriculum
Designs

Subject-Centred Designs (Ornstein & Hunkins, 2013);
Subject Matter Designs
(Sowell, 2005)

r

oldest and best known to teachers and lay peopledevelop interests and competenciescontribute to literacycurriculum is usually developed using outcome approachPro: verbal activities, socialization, easy to deliverCon: no program individualization, emphasis not on learner, little consideration of content, promotes scholarly elite, divorcing knowledge from the student's experience, student passivity

Subject Design

Discipline Design

Broad-Fields Design

Correlation Design

Process Designs

Learner-Centred Designs (Ornstein & Hunkins, 2013);
Learner-Based Designs
(Sowell, 2005)

r

students help select and organize the purposes for learningsubject areas become a means by which students pursue problems or topicstypically used for early childhood educationPros- students perceive learning as relevant and meaningful, actively involved in learning, Cons- do not learn a common body of knowledge, may not learn cultural heritage and achieve social goals

Child-Centred Design

Experience-Centred Design

Romantic (Radical) Design

Humanist Design

Problem-Centred Designs (Ornstein & Hunkins, 2013);
Society-Culture-Based Designs
(Sowell, 2005)

r

needs of society and culturefocusses on the learning processPros- integration of different subject matter, relevance to students and society, meaningful and motivating to studentsCons- content not well organized, doesn't provide adequate exposure to cultural heritage

Life Situations Design

Reconstructionist Design

Shadow Curricula

Operational Curriculum

Hidden Curriculum

Null Curriculum

Design Dimension Considerations

Scope

Sequence

Continuity

Articulation

Integration

Balance

CONCEPTIONS OF CURRICULUM

r

What should be taught? To whom? When and how?

ACADEMIA
(Al-Mousa, 2013)
Academic
Rationalist
Traditionalist

INDIVIDUAL
(Al-Mousa, 2013)
Humanist
Self-actualization
Learner-centered

SOCIETY
(Al-Mousa, 2013)
Social
Reconstructionist-
Relevance

TECHNOLOGY
(Al-Mousa, 2013)
Cognitive
Processes
Systemic

THEORISTS

r

Curricular theorist envisioned different conceptions of curriculum. There is some overlapping between the conceptions.

Marsh and Willis

Critical explanatory

r

two approaches, one, connection between school and society, two, personal experience

Look at curriculum from both an intellectual and social analysis

Descriptive/Critical Exploratory

r

learn to make good choicespractical reasoning valued

Look at curriculum in real time and adjust accordingly

Prescriptive

r

curriculum is pre-planned4 different conceptions: social needs-child-centered, social-efficiency, social needs re-constructionist, philosophical-academic rational

Focused on end, objectives, and outcomes

Eisner and Vallance

Social reconstructivism

r

focusses on social change and social valuesgive learners the tools to flourish in an ever changing worldtwo different branches, present and future

Societal needs over individual needs

Curriculum of Technology

r

uses technology to communicate knowledge efficient, precise logical, to the point

Focuses on process

Academic rationalism

r

most traditionalgive students the tools to function in Western traditionsclassic disciplines taughtpreferred by most educators

Most traditional. Classic Disciplines

Self-actualization

r

content is valuedschooling should be a large part of student's life using curriculum Vallance dropped this and replaced it with personal success and personal commitment

Discover things on their own

Development of Cognitive Process

r

refinement of intellectual skillsgive the learner intellectual autonomy to be able to select and interpret real world situationscontent less important than the how

McNeil

Humanistic

r

develop good character and good work qualityteachers build relationships with students process of learning is valued over the output

Individualism

Social Reconstruction

r

develop learners' social needs over individual needsvalues of the many over the onefind solutions to societal problems

Social change

Systemic or technology

r

outcome based educationhow to teach more important than the content

Process is more important

Academic

r

learners question, hypothesize, synthesize, and draw conclusionsprepare students for life after education

Developing the rational mind

Pratt

Individual fulliment

r

similar to self-actualizationhuman relationships are important to grow personally

Learning through personal experience

Social Tranformation

r

give students freedom and the ability to choosesimilar to social reconstruction curriculum

Political and social change

Cultural Transmission

r

focusses exclusively on cognition"repair deficits or gaps in people's understanding"

Traditional academic knowledge

Sowell

Self-Actualization

r

let learners discover things for themselvesstudent focusses

Needs of the individual

Social-relevance reconstruction

r

provide learners the ability to adjust to the changing world

Needs of society and culture

Technology

r

make learning systematic and efficientfocus on the how over the what

Learners systematic and efficient through process

Cumulative tradition of organized knowledge

r

"cultivate cognitive achievement and the intellect by helping students understand knowledge"

Traditional knowledge based on subjects

Vallance

Personal success and commitment

r

education is a means to an immediate practical endpersonal success is the desired outcome

Individual needs

Social reconstruction

r

unchanged from Eisner and Vallance

Improve society

Technology

r

as technology has improved this may be the broadest of all the conceptionscan be applied to any content and adapted to any purpose

Process for the greatest benefit to the most students

Academic rationalism

r

unchanged from Eisner and Vallance

Create intellectuals with a broad scope of knowledge

Other curriculum designs (Sowell, 2005)

r

Curriculum designs which defy the main classifications.

Technology as Curriculum

r

uses subject matter as a source of contentorganizes knowledge so students can learn from itbehaviourally stated objectivessequenced set of activities

School-to-work Curriculum

r

program usually for high school studentsstudents learn from people in the workforceacquire skills and formulate career goals

Core Curriciulum

r

combines subject matter with content based on societal and personal needsstudents learn core material but also learn secondary material based on aptitude, interests, and capacitiesstrong problem solving element

References:

Al Mousa, N. (2013). An examination of cad use in two interior design programs from the perspective of curriculum and instructors, pp.21-37 (Master’s Thesis).

Eisner, E., & Vallance, E. (1974). Five conceptions of curriculum: Their roots and implications for curriculum planning. In E. Eisner &E. Vallance (eds.), Conflicting Conceptions of Curriculum (p. 1-18). Berkeley, CA: McCuthcan.

Ornstein, A.C. (1990-1991). Philisophy as a basis for curriculum decisions. High School Journal, 74 (2), pp. 102-109.

Ornstein, A.C., & Hunkins, F.P. (2013). Curriculum Design. In Curriculum: Foundations, Principles, and Issues (p. 149-173). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Sowell, E. (2005). Sections from Chapter 3, 4, 5. In Curriculum: An Integrative Introduction (3rd ed.). (p52-61, 81-85, 103-106). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Vallance, E. (2001). A Second Look at Conflicting Conceptions of Curriculum. Theory Into Practise, 24(1), 24-30