Chapter 8- Curriculum
Design
Design

the arrangement of the
elements of a curriculum into a
substantive entity
Elements of Curriculum
Design
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Aims, Goals, and Objectives
Subject Matter
Learning Experiences
Evaluation Approaches
Sources for Curriculum
Design
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Science
Society
Eternal and Divine Sources
Knowledge
Learner
Science as a Source
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Scientific method provides meaning
for the curriculum design
Designs that stress learning how to
learn or “thinking” curricula
emphasize scientific procedures
Coincides with the scientific and
rational world of Western culture
Society as a Source
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School is an agent of society, thus
the school should draw its ideas for
the curriculum from the analysis of
the social situation
Curriculum design can only be
completely understood if it is
contextualized socially,
economically, and politically
Eternal and Divine
Sources
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Draw on the past for guidance
as to what is appropriate
content
Related to eternal truth
revealed through such sources
as the Bible or other religious
documents
Knowledge as a Source

Disciplined Knowledge
• has a particular method or
methods by which scholars extend
its boundaries
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Undisciplined Knowledge
• does not have unique content, but
has content that is clustered
according to the focus of the
investigation
The Learner as a Source

Curriculum should be derived
from what we know about the
learner---how he learns. Forms
attitudes, generates interests,
and develops values
Conceptual Framework
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Horizontal organization
• scope and integration
• side by side arrangement of
curriculum elements
• sequence and continuity
• longitudinal placement of curriculum
elements
Design Dimension
Considerations
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Scope
Sequence
Continuity
Integration
Articulation
Balance
Scope

breath and depth of curriculum
content
Sequence
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vertical relationship among
curricular areas
the occurrence and
reoccurrence of content and
experiences so that students
will have opportunities to
connect and enrich their
understanding of the curriculum
presented or experienced
Continuity

vertical manipulation or
repetition of curriculum
components
Integration
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linking of all types of
knowledge and experiences
contained within the curriculum
plan
enables the individual to
comprehend knowledge as
unified
Articulation
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Vertical Articulation
• depicts the relationships of certain
aspects in the curriculum sequence to
lessons, topics, or courses appearing
later in the program’s sequence

Horizontal Articulation
• refers to the association between or
among elements occurring
simultaneously
Balance

giving appropriate weight to
each aspect of the design so
that distortions do not occur
Representative
Curriculum Designs
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Subject-Centered Designs
Learner-Centered Designs
Problem-Centered Designs
Subject-Centered
Designs
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Subject Design
Discipline Design
Broad Fields Design
Correlation Design
Process Design
Subject Design
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Based on the belief that what
makes humans unique and
distinctive is their intellect and
the searching for and
attainment of knowledge are
the natural fulfillment of that
intellect
Curriculum is organized
according to how essential
Subject Design-Strengths
& Weaknesses
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Emphasis on verbal
activities
Introduces
students to the
essential
knowledge of
society
Easy to deliver
Traditional
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Prevents
individualization
Disempowers students
Fails to foster social,
psychological, and
physical development
Compartmentalizes
learning
Neglects students’
needs, interests,
experiences
Fosters passivity
Discipline Design
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Based on the inherent
organization of content
The manner in which content is
learned is suggested by the
methods scholars employ to
study the content of their fields.
Discipline DesignStrengths &
Weaknesses
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Students attain
mastery of
content and
independent
learning
Subjects to be
taught to any
child at any
stage of
development
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Ignores information
that cannot be
classified as
disciplined
knowledge
Addresses only the
interests of the
college bound
Students must
adapt to the
curriculum
Broad Fields Design
(Interdisciplinary)
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Attempts to integrate content that
appears to fit together logically
Allows students to discern
relationships among the various
aspects of the curriculum content,
as well as wholeness of meaning
Students are invited to participate
through the construction of meaning
in grasping the meaning or meanings
of the whole
Broad Fields- Strengths
& Weaknesses
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Allows students
to discern
relationships
among various
aspects of
curriculum
content
Students
participate in
the construction
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Issue of breadth
vs depth
Correlation Design
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Allows for some linkage of
separate subjects in order to
reduce fragmentation of the
curricular content
Correlation- Strengths &
Weaknesses

Allows linkage
of some
subjects to
reduce
fragmentation
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Requires
alternative
forms of
scheduling
Requires
teachers to plan
differently
(cooperatively)
Process Design
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Gives attention to the procedures
and processes by which individuals
advance knowledge, either in
specific disciplines or in general
Emphasizes those procedures and
dispositions to act that enable
students to analyze their realities
and create frameworks by which the
knowledge derived can be arranged
Process- Strengths &
Weaknesses
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Teaches how to
learn and think
critically
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Lacks emphasis
on content
Learner-Centered
Designs
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Child Centered Designs
Experience-Centered Designs
Romantic (Radical) Designs
Humanistic Designs
Child Centered Designs
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Students must be active in their
environments if we are to
optimize learning
Curriculum should be based on
students’ lives, needs, and
interests
Child-Centered
Strengths &
Weaknesses
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Empowers
students
through
ownership of
knowledge
Allows for
constructivist
learning
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Content not
specific
Experience Centered
Designs
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Everything has to be done “on
the spot”---we cannot anticipate
the interests and needs of
children
Experience Centered
Strengths &
Weaknesses
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Based on
natural
experiences of
children
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Not specific
Romantic (Radical)
Designs
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Emancipation is the goal of education
Individuals should gain those
awarenesses, competencies, and attitudes
to enable them to take control of their
lives
Learning results from the interaction
among people; by challenging content and
permitting different views about the
content, as well as from critiquing the
purposes of the information presented
Romantic Strengths &
Weaknesses
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Emancipates the
learner
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Threatens
status quo
Humanistic Designs
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The focus of attention should be on
the subject nature of human
existence; there is a relationship
between learning and feeling
Empowering individuals
Stress the development of positive
self-concept and interpersonal skills
Humanistic Strengths
&Weaknesses
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Promotes self esteem
Empowers individuals
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Inadequate consideration
of methods in light of
consequences for
learners
Inconsistent emphasis on
uniqueness of individuals
and activities that all
students experience
Too much emphasis on
the needs of the
individual over the overall
society
Does not integrate what
is known about human
learning and development
Problem-Centered
Designs
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Life-Situations Design
Core Design
Social problems and
Reconstructionist Designs
Life Situation Design
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Persistent life situations are crucial to a society’s
successful functioning; it makes sense to organize
a curriculum around them
Students will see direct relevance to what they are
studying if the content is organized around aspects
of community life
By having students study social or life situations,
they not only study ways to improve society but
become directly involved in that improvement
Life Situations Strengths &
Weaknesses
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Presents subject
matter in an
integrated
manner
Encourages
students to
learn and apply
problem solving
procedures
Relevant
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How to
determine scope
and sequence of
essential areas
of learning
Does not expose
student
adequately to
their cultural
heritage
Core Design
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Centers on general education
and is based on problems
arising out of common human
activities
Core Strengths &
Weaknesses
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Unifies content
Provides relevant
subject matter
Encourages active
processing of
information
Fosters democratic
processes in the
classroom
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Nontraditional
Ignores the
fundamentals
Materials are
hard to find
Requires an
exceptional
teacher
Social Problems and
Reconstructionist
Design
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Curriculum should address
contemporary social problems
and social action projects
aimed at reconstructing society
Educators will effect social
change and create a more just
society
Strengths &
Weaknesses