curriculum is the crux of whole educational process

CURRICULUM IS THE CRUX OF WHOLE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.

 

            Curriculum is the crux of whole educational process. Without curriculum, we cannot conceive any educational endeavour.

            The curriculum in a literal sense is a pathway towards a goal. The educational process is set into motion towards its aim through the curriculum or course. Education finds its effects and results through implementation of its curriculum by the school. Curriculum may be considered as an educational programme.

            Curriculum is what actually happens through a course, i.e., lecture, demonstration, field visits and so on.

            The word ‘curriculum’ was formed from the Latin word ‘currere’ which means ‘the race, the path or lap or course or runway’. If the teacher is the guide, curriculum is the path. Curriculum is the total structure of ideas and activities.

            Pedagogically curriculum means the course of the studies to be pursued by the students or the content of the education to be imparted through organisation of its entire work. The course of study forms the basis for writing of textbooks and preparing of teacher’s guides. Curriculum also means a written description of what happens.

 

CONCEPTS OF CURRICULUM

The concept if Curriculum is dynamic as the changes that occur in society. In its narrow sense, curriculum is viewed merely as a listing of subject to be taught in school. In a broader sense, it refers to the total learning experiences of individuals not only in schools but in society as well.

 

Process of curriculum

Evalutation of products

SIGNIFICANCE OF CURRICULUM

In Elementary Schools

In elementary schools, the curriculum is primarily drawn by the educational boards or some central society. They study the needs of the kids and all other feasibilities before selecting courses and drafting a curriculum. Here, the students have least choice in their subjects and study based on a universal curriculum, which works on all sections of the students’ psyche and aid in the total development of the student. No area is left untouched. Hence, the curriculum aids in the proper development, while the child comes to terms with his or her own inclination. Therefore, at primary school levels, the curriculum aims at providing a structured platform, which gives every child an equal opportunity to excel.

 

In High Schools

At high school levels, teenagers can take their own liberty in choosing their path. Though complete autonomy does not rest with a student, a level of choice is very evident. This helps in the development of the teenager, with added importance of being given the field of his own choice. At this stage, the development is more focused and rampant, enhanced through a proper curriculum. Without an effective curriculum, a student would not be able to understand or meet the challenges of the society.

 

At College & Higher Education

At a higher stage of education, an unprecedented autonomy is provided to the students. The students can opt for a more focused curriculum, based on their choice of subjects. A student will graduate, post-graduate or attain a doctorate based on the choice of his subjects and the mode of his study, both or either one determined by him. The curriculum here is reduced to just a framework that is very flexible yet very important. The curriculum chosen by the student will go on to determine the shape of his career. A curriculum prepares an individual with the knowledge to be successful, confident and responsible citizens.

 

TYPES OF CURRICULUM

Since curriculum reflects the models of instructional delivery chosen and used, some might indicate that curriculum could be categorized according to the common psychological classifications of the four families of learning theories “Social, Information Processing, Personalist, and Behavioral.” Longstreet and Shane have dubbed divisions in curricular orientations as: child-centered, society-centered, knowledge-centered, or eclectic. Common philosophical orientations of curriculum parallel those beliefs espoused by different philosophical orientations  – Idealism, Realism, Perennialism, Essentialism, Experimentalism, Existentialism, Constructivism, Reconstructivism and the like.

Whatever classification one gravitates to, the fact remains that at one time or another curriculum in the United States has, at some level, been impacted by all of the above. In essence, American curriculum is hard to pin down because it is multi-layered and highly eclectic.

FUNCTIONS OF CURRICULUM

1.      As curriculum consists of curricular and co-curricular activities, it plays an important role in the mental, moral, emotional, social, emotional and physical development of an individual. The curricular activities help in the intellectual growth while the co-curricular activities help in the all-round development of the learner.

2.      Responsible and useful citizens can be produced by a well organized educational programme.

3.      Basic skills like reading, writing, speaking and understanding in certain language can be developed properly by applying suitable curriculum

4.      The function of each society is to preserve its culture and transmit to the next generation. This function can be performed in  a suitable way by the curriculum

5.      Curriculum makes the individual broad minded

6.      It provides knowledge about the world

7.      It inculcates various values.

8.      It helps in developing a positive outlook towards life

9.      It enables individuals to engage in useful tasks.

10.  It improves the social emotional and economical conditions.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

Curriculum is  for the continuity and consistency of education, both which contribute to quality. If there is no set curriculum, you may not prepare your students for their next level of study, or what they learn in one classroom will be inconsistent with another.