MEANING AND CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES
Curriculum is an important facet of any education. It is not achievement of aims but a source to achieve educational aims. Curriculum suggests learner about the specific and minimum boundaries of learning. It encourages learners and teachers to complete course within time limits. Good curriculum emphasise wholistic development of learner than one sided. While constructing curriculum a computer, constructor keep in mind national and international needs, social webs, living styles social, economic and political aspects. After analysis of these aspects, curriculum is framed.
DERIVATION OF THE TERM “CURRICULUM”
The term curriculum is derived from Latin word ‘currere’ the meaning of which is ‘run’ or ‘path to run.
Hence, curriculum is the path where learner has to run in order to achieve educational objectives. To explain meaning of curriculum different educationalists, sociologists have suggested following views.
DEFINITIONS OF CURRICULUM
ACCORDING TO CUNNINGHAM
“Curriculum is a tool in the hands of the artist (Teachers to mould his material (students) according to his ideals (aims & objectives) in his studio (school).”
ACCORDING TO FROBEL
“Curriculum should be conceived as an epitome of the rounded whole of the knowledge and experience of the human race.”
ACCORDING TO MUNROE
“Curriculum includes all those activities which are utilised by the school to attain the aims of education.”
ACCORDING TO BENT RUDYARD AND KORNENBERG HENRY
“Curriculum, in its broadest sense, includes the complete school environment, involving all the courses, activities, reading and associations furnished to the pupils in the school.”
ACCORDING TO GOOD
“Curriculum is a general overall plan of the content or specific materials of instruction that the school should offer the student by way of qualifying him for gradation or certification for entrance into a professional or vocational field.”
ACCORDING TO CROW AND CROW
“Curriculum includes all the learner’s experiences in or outside school that are included in a programme which has been devised to help him to develop mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually and morally.”
ACCORDING TO HORNE
“Curriculum is that which is taught to the students. It is more than teaching to writing. It includes practice, activities, industry, vocation and requiring knowledge.”
ACCORDING TO JOHN F. KEER
“All the learning which is planned or guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or individually, inside or outside the school, is known a curriculum.”
OBJECTIVES OF CURRICULUM
1. To Provide Suitable Experiences
- Curriculum should carefully select and organize experiences relevant to the course, program, and learner level.
- At the school level, experiences are broad, general, and foundational to build basic understanding.
- In professional education, experiences focus on real-world applications and practical exposure related to the profession.
- For example, medical science curriculum includes clinical experiences with patients, hospitals, medicines, and surgical procedures.
2. To Enrich Knowledge
- Enriching knowledge is a fundamental aim across all curricula.
- School-level curriculum introduces general concepts, basic facts, and foundational theories.
- Higher education curriculum deepens understanding with advanced concepts, detailed theories, and specialized knowledge.
- Professional curricula focus on practical knowledge, professional skills, and ethical values specific to the field.
- For example, a B.Ed. curriculum imparts knowledge on teaching methodologies, classroom management, and educational psychology.
3. To Develop Skills
- Curriculum aims not only to impart knowledge but also to develop relevant skills in learners.
- Primary education focuses on fundamental skills such as reading, writing, speaking, and basic numeracy.
- Secondary and higher education promote higher-order cognitive skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, and analysis.
- Technical and vocational curricula develop specific motor skills and technical competencies.
- For example, ITI or mechanical diploma courses develop manual and technical skills essential for industry requirements.
4. To Inculcate Values
- Curriculum is designed to instill moral, social, and professional values in learners.
- At the school level, general and subject-specific values like honesty, respect, cooperation, and social responsibility are taught.
- Professional courses emphasize ethical standards and professional conduct, such as the medical profession’s oath to serve patients ethically and selflessly.
- Subjects like social sciences teach social values, while arts education promotes aesthetic appreciation and creativity.
5. To Suggest Methodology
- Curriculum provides guidance on effective teaching methods, approaches, and instructional strategies.
- It recommends suitable teaching techniques to help educators address specific themes or skills.
- For example, motor skill development may be taught using methods like modeling, task analysis, chaining, or discrimination learning.
- For conceptual topics, methods such as group discussions, demonstrations, and case studies may be suggested.
6. To Suggest Learning Material
- Curriculum recommends appropriate learning resources to support the teaching-learning process.
- For elementary levels, this includes play materials, project supplies, and hands-on tools.
- At all levels, it suggests textbooks, journals, encyclopedias, newspapers, and multimedia resources.
- This ensures learners have access to diverse and relevant study materials for effective learning.
7. To Facilitate Organisation of Activities
- Curriculum not only suggests activities but also provides guidelines on how to effectively organize and implement them.
- It draws from research and experienced educators to propose best practices for conducting quizzes, camps, laboratory sessions, and other learning activities.
- This helps ensure activities are well-structured, purposeful, and contribute to learning goals.
8. To Facilitate Aims of Education
- Curriculum aligns closely with the broader aims and goals of education and specific programs.
- It serves as a roadmap to achieve desired educational outcomes by guiding content, teaching methods, and evaluation.
- For example, curricula are designed to promote holistic development, critical thinking, creativity, and social responsibility as part of the educational aims.
9. To Organise Experiences and Content
- Curriculum arranges learning experiences and content logically and coherently.
- It follows research-backed frameworks like Bruner’s spiral curriculum, which revisits topics with increasing complexity.
- Subject-specific logic also guides organization, such as chronological sequencing in history or thematic grouping in science.
- This structured organization helps learners build knowledge progressively and connect concepts effectively.
10. To Suggest Curricular Activities
- Curriculum outlines a variety of learning activities that support content delivery and skill development.
- Activities include classroom instruction, group work, laboratory experiments, projects, assignments, use of libraries, and practicum experiences.
- This diversity helps engage learners actively and caters to different learning styles.
11. Helping to Identify Success Areas
- A well-designed curriculum helps identify individual learner strengths and aptitudes.
- Based on theories like Multiple Intelligences, learners may excel in areas such as musical, spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal, logical, or linguistic intelligence.
- Curriculum offers opportunities to explore various domains so learners and teachers can recognize and nurture their areas of success.
- For example, a learner’s talent in music or sports can be identified and further developed through curricular activities.
12. To Provide Guidelines for Evaluation
- Curriculum offers clear guidance on assessment methods and timing.
- It suggests various evaluation tools such as portfolios, rubrics, quizzes, interviews, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended questions.
- It also defines when formative (ongoing) and summative (final) evaluations should be conducted.
- This ensures consistent, fair, and comprehensive assessment of learner progress.
13. To Make Teaching-Learning Process (TLP) More Psychological
- Curriculum encourages teaching approaches grounded in psychological principles of learning and motivation.
- It promotes understanding of individual differences and multiple intelligences.
- Suggestions include strategies to make learning interesting, motivating, and tailored to learner needs.
- For example, using varied instructional methods to engage different learner profiles enhances effectiveness.
14. To Suggest Projects
- Curriculum recommends appropriate projects, assignments, case studies, surveys, and experiments that align with course aims.
- These projects foster hands-on learning, research skills, and real-world application.
- For instance, a B.Ed. curriculum might include a survey project comparing teaching methods in private and government schools.
15. To Suggest Teaching Resources
- Curriculum supports teaching by suggesting specific teaching aids and resources.
- Examples include films, models, maps, websites, projectors, and other multimedia tools.
- These resources are linked to particular themes or topics to enhance instructional effectiveness.
16. To Prepare Learners for Higher Education
- Curriculum acts as a foundation for successive levels of education.
- Each stage builds knowledge and skills required for the next higher class or degree.
- For example, secondary school curriculum prepares learners for higher secondary classes, which then prepare for undergraduate studies, and so forth.
17. To Prepare Learners for Career
- Curriculum helps learners explore and prepare for suitable career paths.
- School curricula expose students to diverse careers through experiences, aptitude tests, and vocational guidance.
- This process assists learners in making informed career choices aligned with their interests and skills.
18. To Prepare Learners for Social Life
- Community-centered curricula prepare learners to participate actively and responsibly in society.
- School curricula incorporate social experiences, community visits, camps, and social projects.
- Programs like NSS camps foster social awareness and civic responsibility.
19. To Facilitate Integration of Learner Domains
- Curriculum integrates physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development domains.
- It connects knowledge acquisition with practical experience and emotional-social learning.
- For example, B.Ed. curricula combine theoretical knowledge of teaching with practical school experiences.
20. To Set Standards for Achievement and Development
- Curriculum defines minimum learning standards and achievement criteria for all learners.
- These standards are often measured through grading or marking systems and reflected in certificates or report cards.
- This ensures consistent benchmarks for educational success.
21. To Provide Directions to Stakeholders
- Curriculum clearly defines roles and responsibilities of all education stakeholders—students, teachers, parents, and administrators.
- It promotes collaboration among stakeholders to ensure effective curriculum delivery.
- Success of the educational program depends on active involvement of all parties guided by curriculum directions.