Curriculum

Curriculum is a term that refers to the lessons and academic content taught in a school or in a specific course or program. In dictionaries, curriculum is often defined as the courses offered by a school, but it is rarely used in such a general sense in schools. Depending on how broadly educators define or employ the term, curriculum typically refers to the knowledge and skills students are expected to learn, which includes the learning standards or learning objectives they are expected to meet; the units and lessons that teachers teach; the assignments and projects given to students; the books, materials, videos, presentations, and readings used in a course; and the tests, assessments, and other methods used to evaluate student learning.

Definition

A curriculum can be seen broadly as the "course of study" in an educational or training setting. This can encompass the objectives of a lesson, course, or entire program of study, and includes both what is taught and how it is taught. The curriculum often includes a detailed list of subjects and the elements of each subject that are to be taught.

Types of Curriculum

There are several types of curriculum, including the overt curriculum (also known as the formal curriculum), the hidden curriculum, the null curriculum, and the extracurricular curriculum.

Overt Curriculum

The overt curriculum is what is intentionally taught in school. This is the public, visible aspect of education that includes planned programs of objectives, content, learning experiences, resources, and assessment.

Hidden Curriculum

The hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, unofficial, and often unintended lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school. While the "formal" curriculum consists of the courses, lessons, and learning activities students participate in, as well as the knowledge and skills educators intentionally teach to students, the hidden curriculum consists of the unspoken or implicit academic, social, and cultural messages that are communicated to students while they are in school.

Null Curriculum

The null curriculum is what is not taught but students may need to know. These are the areas of knowledge that are not included in the overt curriculum.

Extracurricular Curriculum

The extracurricular curriculum includes those activities and programs that are not part of the overt curriculum but that can have significant impact on student learning, such as after-school clubs, sports teams, and school plays.

Importance of Curriculum

The curriculum plays a crucial role in ensuring that learning happens in schools. It serves as a guide for teachers in what to teach, when to teach it, and how to teach it. The curriculum also helps to ensure that all students have access to the same content and skills, regardless of their individual abilities or circumstances.

See Also

• Education
• Lesson Plan
• Teaching Method
• Learning Objectives

References

Curriculum Resources
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