Curriculum
Design
Curriculum Design
is the statement which identifies the
elements of a curriculum, states
what their relationships are to each
other, and indicates the principles of
organization and requirement of that
organization for the administrative
conditions under which it is to
operate.
(Hilda Taba, 1962)
Elements of Curriculum
Design
Aims, Goals, and Objectives
Subject Matter
Learning Experiences
Evaluation Approaches
Sources for Curriculum
Design
Science
Society
Eternal and Divine Sources
Knowledge
Learner
Science as a Source
Scientific method provides meaning
for the curriculum design
Designs that stress learning how to
learn or “thinking” curricula
emphasize scientific procedures
Coincides with the scientific and
rational world of Western culture
Society as a Source
School is an agent of society, thus
the school should draw its ideas for
the curriculum from the analysis of
the social situation
Curriculum design can only be
completely understood if it is
contextualized socially,
economically, and politically
Eternal and Divine
Sources
Draw on the past for guidance
as to what is appropriate
content
Related to eternal truth
revealed through such sources
as the Bible or other religious
documents
Knowledge as a Source
Disciplined Knowledge
• has a particular method or methods
by which scholars extend its
boundaries
Undisciplined Knowledge
• does not have unique content, but
has content that is clustered
according to the focus of the
investigation
The Learner as a Source
Curriculum should be derived
from what we know about the
learner---how he learns. Forms
attitudes, generates interests,
and develops values
Design Dimension
Considerations
Scope
Sequence
Continuity
Integration
Articulation
Balance
Scope
breath and depth of curriculum
content
Sequence
vertical relationship among
curricular areas
the occurrence and reoccurrence
of content and experiences so that
students will have opportunities to
connect and enrich their
understanding of the curriculum
presented or experienced
Continuity
vertical manipulation or
repetition of curriculum
components
Integration
linking of all types of knowledge
and experiences contained
within the curriculum plan
enables the individual to
comprehend knowledge as
unified
Articulation
Vertical Articulation
• depicts the relationships of certain
aspects in the curriculum sequence to
lessons, topics, or courses appearing
later in the program’s sequence
Horizontal Articulation
• refers to the association between or
among elements occurring
simultaneously
Balance
giving appropriate weight to
each aspect of the design so
that distortions do not occur
Representative
Curriculum Designs
Subject-Centered Designs
Learner-Centered Designs
Problem-Centered Designs
Subject-Centered
Designs
Subject Design
Discipline Design
Broad Fields Design
Correlation Design
Process Design
Subject Design
Based on the belief that what makes
humans unique and distinctive is
their intellect and the searching for
and attainment of knowledge are the
natural fulfillment of that intellect
Curriculum is organized according to
how essential knowledge has been
developed in the various subject
areas
Subject Design-Strengths
& Weaknesses
Emphasis on verbal Prevents
activities individualization
Disempowers students
Introduces Fails to foster social,
students to the psychological, and
essential physical development
knowledge of Compartmentalizes
society learning
Easy to deliver
Neglects students’
needs, interests,
Traditional experiences
Fosters passivity
Discipline Design
Based on the inherent
organization of content
The manner in which content is
learned is suggested by the
methods scholars employ to
study the content of their fields.
Discipline Design-
Strengths &
Weaknesses
Students attain Ignores information
mastery of that cannot be
classified as
content and
disciplined
independent knowledge
learning Addresses only the
Subjects to be interests of the
taught to any college bound
child at any stage Students must
of development adapt to the
curriculum
Broad Fields Design
(Interdisciplinary)
Attempts to integrate content that
appears to fit together logically
Allows students to discern relationships
among the various aspects of the
curriculum content, as well as
wholeness of meaning
Students are invited to participate
through the construction of meaning in
grasping the meaning or meanings of the
whole
Broad Fields- Strengths
& Weaknesses
Allows students to Issue of breadth
discern vs depth
relationships
among various
aspects of
curriculum content
Students
participate in the
construction of
meaning
Correlation Design
Allows for some linkage of
separate subjects in order to
reduce fragmentation of the
curricular content
Correlation- Strengths &
Weaknesses
Allows linkage Requires
of some alternative
subjects to forms of
reduce scheduling
fragmentation Requires
teachers to plan
differently
(cooperatively)
Process Design
Gives attention to the procedures
and processes by which individuals
advance knowledge, either in
specific disciplines or in general
Emphasizes those procedures and
dispositions to act that enable
students to analyze their realities
and create frameworks by which the
knowledge derived can be arranged
Process- Strengths &
Weaknesses
Teaches how to Lacks emphasis
learn and think on content
critically
Learner-Centered
Designs
Child Centered Designs
Experience-Centered Designs
Romantic (Radical) Designs
Humanistic Designs
Child Centered Designs
Students must be active in their
environments if we are to
optimize learning
Curriculum should be based on
students’ lives, needs, and
interests
Child-Centered
Strengths &
Weaknesses
Empowers Content not
students specific
through
ownership of
knowledge
Allows for
constructivist
learning
Experience Centered
Designs
Everything has to be done “on
the spot”---we cannot anticipate
the interests and needs of
children
Experience Centered
Strengths &
Weaknesses
Based on Not specific
natural
experiences of
children
Romantic (Radical)
Designs
Emancipation is the goal of education
Individuals should gain those
awarenesses, competencies, and attitudes
to enable them to take control of their
lives
Learning results from the interaction
among people; by challenging content and
permitting different views about the
content, as well as from critiquing the
purposes of the information presented
Romantic Strengths &
Weaknesses
Emancipates the Threatens
learner status quo
Humanistic Designs
The focus of attention should be on
the subject nature of human
existence; there is a relationship
between learning and feeling
Empowering individuals
Stress the development of positive
self-concept and interpersonal skills
Humanistic Strengths
&Weaknesses
Promotes self esteem Inadequate consideration
of methods in light of
Empowers individuals consequences for learners
Inconsistent emphasis on
uniqueness of individuals
and activities that all
students experience
Too much emphasis on the
needs of the individual
over the overall society
Does not integrate what is
known about human
learning and development
Problem-Centered
Designs
Life-Situations Design
Core Design
Social problems and
Reconstructionist Designs
Life Situation Design
Persistent life situations are crucial to a society’s
successful functioning; it makes sense to organize
a curriculum around them
Students will see direct relevance to what they are
studying if the content is organized around aspects
of community life
By having students study social or life situations,
they not only study ways to improve society but
become directly involved in that improvement
Life Situations Strengths &
Weaknesses
Presents subject How to determine
matter in an scope and
integrated manner sequence of
Encourages essential areas of
students to learn learning
and apply problem Does not expose
solving student
procedures adequately to their
cultural heritage
Relevant
Nontraditional
Core Design
Centers on general education
and is based on problems
arising out of common human
activities
Core Strengths &
Weaknesses
Unifies content Nontraditional
Provides relevant Ignores the
subject matter
fundamentals
Encourages active
processing of
Materials are
information hard to find
Fosters democratic Requires an
processes in the exceptional
classroom teacher
Social Problems and
Reconstructionist
Design
Curriculum should address
contemporary social problems
and social action projects
aimed at reconstructing society
Educators will effect social
change and create a more just
society
