curriculum notes

                                CURRICULUM                 

The term curriculum is derived from the latin word  ‘currere’ which means ‘run’ and it signifies a runway or ‘a course which one runs to reach a goal’. Curriculum is very important in education.it changes according to the situations and circumstances of a country. The curriculum of education is decided in accordance with the policy of the nation. Curriculum generally denotes all those tasks that are performed by students. 

DEFINITIONS OF CURRICULUM 

Crow &Crow : Curriculum includes all the learners experience in or outside the school that are included in the programme which has been devised to help him to develop mentally , physically, emotionally, spiritually and morally. 

Cunningham : Curriculum is a tool in the hands of the artist ,to mould his material ,according to his ideal in his studio. The material is highly self active  and responds consciously. 

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CURRICULUM  DEVELOPMENT 

1. Activity principle 

Action is life. Man is an active being. Therefore the curriculum must be full of activities.it should be a collection of experiences the student might learn with his personal effort and experiences. 

2. Conservative principle 

The curriculum should embrace such studies by which student should cultivate a sense of respect for his traditions and culture. 

3. Creative principle 

The almighty created the universe and men have created other things of the world. Man being a creative being, his education should be so moulded that he may be able to develop creative power successfully. 

4. Forward looking principle 

The principle relates to the capability of adjustment in different circumstances of life. The curriculum should be so framed that the student may acquire to the ability to study the real aspect of any situation. 

5. Priciple of preparation for life 

The curriculum should be so framed and include such elements by which students may prepare themselves for their future life. 

6. Principle of child centeredness 

The curriculum should be according to the needs, interest, aptitudes, attitudes and abilities of the pupils of the particular age. 

7. Principle of integration 

The curriculum should integrate child’s activities and his needs, on the one hand, and the needs of the 21st century. 

8. Principle of elasticity, flexibility and variety 

The curriculum should not be rigid but should be flexible to suit the changing needs of the pupils and society.it should be flexible and broad based. 

9. Principle of totality of experience 

The curriculum should be a totality of experiences in the school but not a set of subject. 

APPROACHES IN CURRICULUM ORGANISATION 

• Spiral approach 

Curriculum which ascends , enlarging as it climbs. The spiral view accounts for the more refined wisdom distilled from the experience overtime. The upward and outward curriculum organisation acknowledges the gradual nature of development of knowledge and also the development of learner .Gradation of linkage too is taken care of and the continuity of then topic concerned is never broken. 

 

• Concentric plan 

The whole science course is spread over a number of years. The same topic is treated at each stage or year through successive stages or years according to the mental development of pupils and the circle of knowledge goes on widening. To begin with   a simple presentation of the subject matter is given in outlines , gaps being filled in the following years; more gaps are filled  a year or later in accordance with the amount of knowledge which the pupil are capable of assimilating. 

 

 

 

  

• The topic plan 

The planned aims of teaching science has an integral whole and not as different branches like physics, chemistry & biology. Science lessons are grouped out to topics of immediate interest of pupils. They may be grouped into life centered, environment centered and life and environment centered topics.