Approaches of curriculum construction

 Approaches of curriculum construction

• Concentric and spiral approach
• Psychological and logical approach
• Topical and unit approach
• Correlation and fusion approach
• Hidden curriculum

1. Concentric & spiral approach

Concentric approach

• The whole curriculum is spread over a number of years.
• A general and elementary treatment of a number of relevant topics are attempted at the beginning and it is developed in successive years according to the mental development of the pupils.
• In the beginning of the course, a general insight of a unit in its totality is given to pupils in a simplified manner. In the next years more and more details of its parts are added.
• It follows the maxims of teaching.
• Bruner is the main exponent of this approach, he thinks that discovery learning is possible through this approach.

Spiral approach

• The spiral approach is same as the concentric approach.
• In spiral approach gives the additional implication that while attempting gradation the linkage too is taken care of and the continuity of the topic concerned is never broken.

2. Psychological and logical curriculum

Psychological approach

• The arrangement of subject matter based on principles of psychology is known as psychological approach.
• The criteria of inclusion of an item in the curriculum will be the psychological needs, requirements, capacities etc, appropriate for the developmental level of the learner, It is tune with the principle of child-centeredness.

Logical approach

• This approach is given to the logical sequencing of the subject concerned.
• This approach insist that contents of every subject have to be developed in tune with such a logical sequence.

3. Topical and unit approach

Topical approach

• Every subject of study involves a number of topics.
• A topic is a comprehensive collection of related learning materials pertaining to specific areas of the subject, systematically and sequentially arranged so as to get a holistic picture of those aspects.
• There might be a large number of concepts, principles, processes and skills associated with area, which act as related part of a whole.
• A topic is thoroughly dealt with and mastered before passing on to another topic is called as topic approach.

Unit approach

• A topic may be so complex and might include a large number of items varied difficulty.
• Here the topics are arranged into independent units by keeping the principle of sequential and logical order.
• Gestalt principle also follows in this approach.

4. Correlation and fusion approach

Correlation

• Correlation refers to the inter relation of the subjects with one subject in a meaningful way.

Social science history, politics, sociology, geography............

Fusion

• The organization of curriculum in such a way that the subject matter of many disciplines are synthesized into a single meaningful unit.

Hidden curriculum

• A hidden curriculum is a set of lessons which are learned but not openly intende b be taught in school such as norms, values and beliefs conveyed in both the classroom and social environment.

Chronological approach

• Chronology is the study of dates or years of events in the sequence in which they happened.
• Chronological approach is very much useful in organizing the content especially in history.
• It is worth while in the development of the curriculum for the study of the evolution of earth, man etc..
• Examining facts and events one after another and in the sequence of their occurrence will give students a better gestalt of the subject.
• The boundaries of different subjects cannot be visible at all.