CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING CURRICULUM

LESSON 1 – VARIOUS DEFINITIONS OF CURRICULUM

INTRODUCTION This chapter captures the basic concepts, nature and scope
and basic meanings of curriculum, foundations and curriculum
conceptions and significant pieces of literature and theories
that will help curriculum workers, teachers, and students to
understand the learning processes
MODULE OUTCOMES This module aims to describe the school curriculum in terms
of its definition in different perspectives, nature and scope and
provides a wider viewpoint for the teachers.
LEARNING At the end of the lesson, the students must have:
OUTCOMES 1. defined curriculum from different perspectives
2. described the nature and scope of curriculum
3. analyzed the different curriculum conceptions
ACTIVATE

Read Today’s Headlines

1. “PCOO assists DepEd on blended learning materials”

2. “CHED: Colleges, universities may still add Filipino to curriculum”

3. “DepEd: Curriculum to undergo changes”

4. “Philippines needs to improve its education system”

5. “Education in the face of a pandemic: Should parents shift to homeschooling?”

https://philippineslifestyle.com/wp- https://www.compassion.com/Images/letter-
content/uploads/DepEd-blended-learning-no- writing-ideas-assistance.jpg
https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-
need-to-buy-gadgets.png
content/uploads/2020/05/May-11-DepEd-Online-
Press-Conference-page-001.jpg

What can you say of these headlines? Do these reflect what are going on in our school?
Should the public know and be involved in the schooling of the citizens? What are the
implications of each headline to the classroom curriculum?
Write your thoughts on the space provided.
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ACQUIRE

Whether curriculum is taken in its narrow view as a listing of subjects to be taught in

school or broadly as all learning experiences that individuals undergo while in school,
we cannot deny the fact that curriculum should be understood by teachers and other
stakeholders. For curriculum affects all teachers, students, parents, politicians,
businessmen, professionals, government officials or even the common people.

Like many concepts in education, there seems to be no common definition of

‘curriculum’. Because of this, the concept of curriculum is sometimes characterized as
fragmentary, elusive and confusing. However, the word originates from the Latin word
currere referring to the oval track upon which Roman chariots raced. The New
International Dictionary defines curriculum as the whole body of a course in an
educational institution or by a department while the Oxford Dictionary defines curriculum
as courses taught in schools or universities. Curriculum means different things to
different people. Sometimes educators equate curriculum with the syllabus while a few
regard it as all the teaching-learning experiences which the student encounters while in
school. Numerous definitions indicate dynamism which connotes diverse interpretations
as influenced by modes of thoughts, pedagogies, philosophies, political as well as
cultural perspectives. Hence are some of them.

Some Definitions of Curriculum

1. A prearranged and directed set of learning experiences and intended outcomes,

formulated through the systematic reconstruction of knowledge and experiences under
the umbrellas of the school, for the learners’ constant and willful growth in personal
social competence. (Daniel Tanner, 1980)
2. A written document that systematically describes goals planned, objectives, content,
learning activities, evaluation procedures and so forth. (Pratt, 1980)

3. The contents of a subjects, concepts and tasks to be acquired, planned activities, the
desired learning outcomes and experiences, product of culture and an agenda to reform
society make up a curriculum. (Schubert, 1987)

4. A curriculum includes “all of the experiences that individual learners have in a

program of education whose drive is to achieve broad goals and related specific
objectives, which is intended in terms of a background of theory and research or past
and present professional preparation”. (Hass, 1987)

5. As a program of activities (by educators and learners) prepared so that pupils will
maximize its capacity to achieve so far as possible certain educational and other
schooling ends or objectives. (Grundy, 1987)

6. A plan consists of learning chances for a specific time frame and place, a tool that
aims to bring about behavior changes in students as a result of planned activities and
includes all learning experiences received by students with the guidance of the school.
(Goodland and Su, 1992)

7. Curriculum as list of subjects. This definition suggests that curriculum is the “stable”
or the traditional subjects offered in the school curriculum such as Mathematics,
Language, Science, Music, Arts and others.

8.Curriculum as learning experiences. This definition includes students’ curricular and

co-curricular activities and the learning experiences they come across inside or outside
the school. This definition includes the hidden curriculum or those things learned by the
students as a result of their experiences in the school. In short, it includes the culture of
the schools and so much more from the influences of society.

9. Curriculum as intended learning outcomes. This definition includes a list of learning

capabilities or principles that students should acquire in school.

10. Curriculum as planned learning experiences. This includes documents focusing on

the contents, objectives or general concepts of what learners should acquire in school
or in a specific area given.

11. Curriculum as discipline. Curriculum as an area or discipline has its own ideologies,
systems and practices.

12. Curriculum as content or subject matter. This definition views curriculum as a

sequence of units or discipline under each subject area.
 APPLY

Activity 1 – In this activity, let us find out how teachers, students, educators, define
curriculum from their own points of view.

Try to inquire from the following persons identified below (thru text messages, video
calls, chat, etc.). Allow them to share their views/ideas on what Curriculum is.

Record their answers and present the definition in a matrix like the one below. Try to
note their discussions with you and you may compare them as to the similarities and
differences of their ideas.

Persons Answer to Question: What is Curriculum to You?

Interviewed

Elementary Grades
Teachers

School Principals

Persons Answer to Question: What is Curriculum to You?

Interviewed

Professor

School Personnel

Non-education
College Student

Comments /Observations:
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 ASSESS

1. How do you view your school curriculum?

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2. Try to study and analyze the pictures below and write your personal definition of
curriculum.

a.___________________________________
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https://www.cnnphilippines.com/.imaging/mte/demo-cnn-
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b.___________________________________
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