Lesson 4 Foundation of Curriculum Development
Lesson 4 Foundation of Curriculum Development
Learning outcome
Question: What philosophical, historical, psychological and sociological influences inform the current
school curriculum?
How these foundation reflect the development of curriculum in our 21 st century classroom and
learning environment?
Who are the identified curricularists with these foundation? Let us find out!
explanation
Curriculum development is the process of creating a structured plan for teaching and learning in
schools. It involves a systematic approach to designing, implementing, and evaluating an educational
program that meets the needs of the learners and aligns with the goals and objectives of the educational
institution.
- It is refers to the underlying principles, concepts, and theories that guide the design,
development, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs. It involves a deep
understanding of the nature of learning, the needs and interests of the learners, the goals and
objectives of the educational program, and the social and cultural context in which education
takes place.
Foundation of curriculum
1. Philosophical foundation
- Educators, teachers, educational planners and policy makers must have a philosophy or strong belief
about education and schooling and the kind of curriculum in the teachers’ classrooms or learning
environment.
Philosophy of the curriculum answers questions like:
- The various activities in school are influenced in one way or another by a philosophy. John
Dewey influenced the use of “learning by doing”, he being a pragmatist. Or to an essetialist, the
focus on the fundamentals or reading, writing and arithmetic are essential subjects in the
curriculum.
-
- Is a course of study that focuses on the fundamental principles, beliefs, and values that underpin different
philosophical systems or schools of thought.
- The aim of a philosophical foundation curriculum is to provide students with a broad understanding of the
philosophical underpinnings of various disciplines and fields of study. It can help them develop critical
thinking skills, improve their ability to reason and argue logically, and enable them to engage with complex
issues and ideas in a thoughtful and informed way.
There are philosophies in education, but we will illustrate only those presented by Ornstein and Hunkins
in 2004.
A. Perennialism
Aim: To educate the rational person; cultivate intellect
Role: Teachers assist students to think with reason (critical thinking HOTS)
Focus: Classical subjects, literary analysis. Curriculum is enduring
Trends: Use of great books (Bible, Koran, Classics) and Liberal Arts
B. Essentialism
Aim: To promote intellectual growth of learners to become competent
Role: Teachers are sole authorities in the subject area
Focus: Essential skills of the 3Rs; essential subjects
Trends: Back to basics, Excellence in education, cultural literacy
C. Progressivism
Aim: Promote democratic social living
Role: teacher leads for growth and development of lifelong learners
Focus: Interdisciplinary subjects. Learner-centered. Outcome-based
Trends: Equal opportunities for all, Contextualized curriculum, Humanistic education
D. Reconstructionism
Aim: To improve and reconstruct society. Education for changed
Role: teacher acts as agent of change and reforms
Focus: Present and future educational landscape
Trends: School and curricular reform, Global education, Collaboration and convergence,
Standards and Competencies