Curriculum Construction - Curriculum in social sceince

Curriculum in Social Sciences

Curriculum is an academic word. The concept of curriculum is emerged along with the formal education system in the world. A school runs up on a stipulated curriculum. Curriculum has different aspects and elements.

The word curriculum come from a Latin word ‘currere’, which means ‘to run’ or ‘to lead’. Curriculum is a path to run or a way to run to reach at a goal. Curriculum is mean and end for the conduct of education. Curriculum is defined as all the experiences that learners can have at school or in educational institution. Curriculum is the tool in the hands of the artists (teachers) to mold his materials (students) in his studio (school), is the concept of Cunningham.

Hence, we can find that curriculum is the exact directive for the educational experiences. It is the totality of the experiences that learners get from the educational institution. There is a fact that in most of the cases, the curriculum being considered as syllabus. It is a notable error, but using commonly.

Factors Influencing Curriculum Construction

            There are different factors that influence curriculum construction for educational programme. Some of the major factors are listed below;

·       Socio-cultural factors

·       Psychological factors

·       Philosophical factors

·       Economic factors

·       Factors of convenience and facilities

·       Factors of teacher qualities and learners learning capacities

·       Technological and other supportive facilities

·       Factors of resource availabilities

·       The government policies

·       Policies of Educational administrators

·       Attitude of the stake holders of education

The factors that affect the curriculum construction which are listed above are not complete.  There may have different other factors that may affect the curriculum construction. 

Principles of Curriculum Construction

            The construction of curriculum is based up on certain principles and policies. These tenets are called principles of curriculum construction. Certain important principles that are to be followed for curriculum construction are given below;

Principle of: -

·       child centeredness

·       activity centeredness/ activity orientation

·       optimism

·       conservation

·       protecting, transforming and transferring culture

·       creativity

·       humanity

·       flexibility

·       protecting significance of leisure

·       psychological aptness

·       philosophical and cultural aptness

The principles are the directions to be followed while constructing curriculum. An effective curriculum might have strengthened by incorporating these principles.

Organizing Social Science Curriculum

             A curriculum can be constructed in different ways. The organization of curriculum needs to follow any of the stipulated approaches. New approaches can be developed based up on strong pedagogic principles. The organization of curriculum designed based up on the approach of construction.  The major approaches of curriculum construction are given under;

1.     concentric approach

2.     topical approach

3.     unit approach

4.     spiral approach

Concentric Approach in Curriculum Construction

            Concentric approach aims to provide learning experiences in a continuous mode. It promotes continuous, unbreaking and linked learning at all levels.

Curriculum based up on the concentric approach develops continuous learning experiences for students at all levels – primary, secondary, higher secondary) The curriculum content and experiences continuously elaborated from early stage to higher stage. Concentric approach is a grade-by-grade approach to reach on the aims of curriculum.

Figure -1: The curriculum develops stage by stge.

This figure explains the continuity of curriculum experiences in Concentric Approach. At the first level, the curriculum deals with primary experiences and gradually it develops. It is a method from cone to center.

Topical Approach

            Curriculum construction is called Topical Approach when it is constructed based up on topic-by-topic data. The topic will be suitable for learners age, ability, interest, learnability and life situations. In this method each topic will be self-satisfied with content and experiences. In topical approach all topics are independent in the content and experiences but are interrelated with the central theme of the curriculum

Unit Approach

            A unit of content is an organized body of information and experiences, designed to provide significant learning out comes to the learner. There are different types of units – resource units, teaching units, work unit and so.

In this approach, content and experiences are organized s units with specified objectives, learning tasks and process skills with specified learning outcomes. Resource units provide learning experiences, information and conceptual ideas. The units are interconnected and related with a total theme.

Spiral Approach

Spiral curriculum means continuous organization of experiences and content from lower level to higher level. For example, if the content is to teach is Mughal dynasty, primary matters at lower level, and gradually go to complex information.  

        In spiral approach, the curriculum develops like a spring of content and experiences from lower level to Higher level

Different Types of Social Science Curriculum

            Curriculum are different in types based up on its aims and scopes. The mjor types are;

a.     separate Curriculum’

b.     integrated curriculum

c.     hidden curriculum

d.     open curriculum

             A school subject is not an isolated area of study. It is connected with all other subjects. Social science, like other subjects is a compound of different subjects.  If the selection of experiences and contents for social science are isolated or independent, it will have a separate identity. It will separate from other disciplines or school subjects. Separate curriculum focused on subject elements and it is content oriented.

In integrated curriculum different disciplines are integrated with each other in content and experience. They are complementary for developing knowledge. An integrated curriculum is the integration of all subjects related with social science.

Hidden curriculum is a curriculum planners’/administrators’ agenda. It means by undergoing a curriculum the learners should acquire certain qualities, characters, information, values, habits and etc., that may not be explained openly. This intention also may not be open in curriculum.