The word curriculum originated in ancient Rome and meant a chariot race course. Imagine Julius Ceaser talking about which team of horses, driver, chariot would run the curriculum fastest.
Today we talk about the school curriculum and curriculum guides which are documents from the results of planning and development. Therefore, are these documents the curriculum? Or what is a definition of curriculum?
Curriculum probably has a greater variety of definitions than any other word used in education. Here is a handful:
Curriculum is everything that happens within the school, including extra class activities, guidance, and interpersonal
relationships.
Curriculum is that which is taught both inside and outside of school directed by the school.
Curriculum is everything that is planned by school personnel.
Curriculum is a series of experiences undergone by learners in school.
Curriculum is that which an individual learner experiences as a result of schooling.
The definition you select will effect the way you “do curriculum“.
If you accept a definition of curriculum as a set of subjects you face a much simpler task than a school system which takes on the responsibility for all experiences the learner has both inside and outside of the school.
Be aware, you may select or favor a particular definition, but others exist and are just as favored by others and should not be rejected lightly as all have advantages and disadvantages.
If you review curriculum definitions you will find they can be classified into five categories:
- Curriculum as a product – program, document, electronic media, or multimedia
- Curriculum as a program of study – usually courses offered, curriculum sequences of study in standards as benchmarks,
gateways, - Curriculum as intended learnings – goals, content, concepts, generalizations, outcomes
- Curriculum as experiences of the learner – activities, planned and unplanned.
- Hidden curriculum – what students learn that isn’t planned – unless you plan for this – or is it possible?
Innovative teaching techniques and strategies (such as active learning or blended learning) are constantly being devised in order
to improve the student learning experience. As a result, an institution has to have a plan in place for acknowledging these shifts
and then be able to implement them in the school curriculum.
