Teaching Curriculum Definition

For any schooling program to deliver the desired results, there should be a systematic approach in the dissemination of information from the teachers to the students--this is where a teaching curriculum comes in. Once a teaching curriculum is properly conceptualized, the intended results are achieved faster and easier; a planned and guided learning approach specifies what is sought in advance and shows the way to achieve it.

Definition

Curriculum refers to a set of courses and content that students go through in their schooling. A curriculum prescribes a general syllabus of study detailing the list of topics that must be understood, as well as also giving the age and comprehension level at which the courses must be delivered to students.

Historical Conception

As early as 1918, there was a textbook on teaching curriculum--"The Curriculum" by John Franklin Bobbitt--and it forms the basis of much of what has been developed to date. The term "curriculum" derives from the Latin for "race-course"; as such, the textbook outlines the course of deeds and experiences which children in an education system should go through--both in and out of school--in order to be responsible adults in a society. The author intended to develop a scope of study that was directed in order to deliberately deliver an educational course of planned and unplanned experiences to help in the formation of adult members of society.

Place of Teaching Currciulum

In a formal education system, there are always coursework and content that is offered at a school from the lowest level all the way to the university. A teaching curriculum is either partly or completely determined by external bodies. Each schooling entity may also adjust the teaching curriculum so that it is localized, addressing local situations as much as possible. Those in charge of developing teaching curricula always look ahead in order to have them adjusted accordingly, so they meet and influence emerging trends.

Functions

Since curriculum refers to the range of a course of studies that a student follows on any subject they study, it therefore defines a specific learning program. An effective teaching curriculum will therefore encompass teaching, learning and the assessment of the materials used in the particular course of study. It also goes on to define and propose the best methodology to help the students learn most effectively within their educational environment, which is called discovery learning. An effective teaching curriculum therefore includes communication, numeracy and social skills.

Process

A teaching curriculum is a product model dependent on what behavioral objectives are set. The successful implementation of a curriculum depends on the successful interaction of teachers, students and the knowledge they share. Curriculum is therefore what happens in the classroom, in addition to being a set of documents for implementation by teachers.

References

• Queensland Government: Curriculum: Learning, Teaching and Assessment

Resources

• Innovative Teaching Concepts