What is Curriculum?

 

 Subject: Foreign Languages Didactics II

Teacher's name: Jineth Karina Garcia Cendales

Student's name: Sebastian Buitrago Lopez

How aware are you of the curriculum that guided your schooling? You may not remember, but every subject, topic, and teaching method responded to a structured plan and was with the help of the curriculum.

Defining curriculum can easily lead to misunderstandings, because it is not a simple concept. For some, curriculum means a list of subjects and topics to be taught. For others, it represents the whole educational experience, including values, methods, and goals. In this blog, however, the concept will be broken down and explored. Here, curriculum is understood as a framework that regulates which contents are selected for teaching and learning.

 Theoretical foundations. 

Ralph Tyler (1902-1994) states that curriculum refers to all the learning experiences designed and directed by the school, whether they take place in groups or individually, inside or outside the classroom, besides, he raised in his work Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction (1949) that curriculum design should be guided by four fundamental questions:

                                                    

• Cesar Coll (1950): Curriculum must answer what, how, and when to teach and assess.
• Hilda Taba (1902-1967): Curriculum depends on the social context, and it is a structured learning plan that incorporates objectives, content, methods, and assessments.
• Franklin Bobbitt (1918) describes curriculum as a set of planned educational experiences aimed at the development of students.

contemporary definitions

• Elliot Eisner (1994): Proposes that curriculum not only must focus in content, but also, in the experiences students live.
• Lawrence stenhouse: (1975) For Stenhouse, the curriculum is not a fixed plan, but a dynamic process of construction, dialogue, and educational practice.

Now, to further understad the curriculum, we will discuss two concepts: curriculum theories that  provide the conceptual basis, while the types of curriculum show the practical expression of those ideas in educational reality.

Approaches to Curriculum

Critical Curriculum Theory.

Students are agents of social changes, and this theory recognizes the importance of cultural diversity, encourages the integration of multiple perspectives into the curriculum, and challenges the established status quo.

Traditional Curriculum Theory.

It is based on the transmission of knowledge, with the teacher serving as the central figure and authority within a structured form of instruction. The curriculum is fixed and standardized, while the student passively receives information through an expository approach. Memorization plays a fundamental role in achieving academic success.

The postmodern theory 

The postmodern theory of curriculum emerges from the limitations of traditional theories and advocates for the plurality of voices and experiences. Furthermore, it rejects the notion of a universal truth and acknowledges that knowledge is a cultural and social construction shaped by diverse perspectives, all of which are considered valid. Consequently, it is skeptical of standardized curricula and instead adapts to the specific contexts of learners, recognizing the importance of students’ experiences and cultural backgrounds.

Types of Curriculum

Formal or Official Curriculum : This is the explicit curriculum, officially designed and approved (curriculum plans, standards, and objectives).

Hidden Curriculum : These are values, norms, and attitudes that are implicitly learned in school (e.g., discipline, obedience).

Null Curriculum : These are content that is not taught or is omitted, and whose absence influences the student's development.

Operational or Implemented Curriculum: This is the way teachers apply the official curriculum in the classroom, with variations depending on the context and resources.

Evaluated Curriculum : This is measured through tests and evaluations, reflecting what students actually learned.

Unofficial Curriculum :This includes complementary activities not planned in the formal curriculum (such as workshops, sports, cultural experiences).

The curriculum is more than just a list of subjects; it’s a whole framework that guides what and how we learn. Different theories show that it can either stick to traditional teaching or open space for diversity and critical thinking. Also, the types of curriculum remind us that learning doesn’t only happen through official plans, but also through hidden lessons, omissions, and even extracurricular experiences. In the end, curriculum shapes both our learning and the way we see the world.

Reference
Uniminuto. (n.d.). Curriculum design theories; Curriculum theories and models. Unpublished course material. Universidad Minuto de Dios.