DOCSLIB.ORG

ED287439.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ED287439.Pdf DOCUMENT RESUME ED 287 439 HE 020 913 AUTHOR Stark, Joan S.; And Others TITLE Designing the Learning Plan: A Review of Research and Theory Related to College Curricula. INSTITUTION National Center for Research to Improve Postsecondary Teaching and Learning, Ann Arbor, MI. SPONS AGENCY Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 86 GRANT OERI-86-0010 NOTE 99p.; From the NCRIPTAL Program on Curricular Integration and Student Goals. AVAILABLE FROMNCRIPTAL, Suite 2400 School of Education Building, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2748 (Technical Report No. 86-C-001.0, $10.00). PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC0* Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *College Curriculum; College Instruction; *Curriculum Development ;` Definitions; *Educational Research; Higher Education; Instructional Improvement; Planning; Research Design; *Research Needs; Secondary School Curriculum IDENTIFIERS Alverno College WI; College Outcomes Assessment ABSTRACT A summary of major writings on college and pre-college curriculum literature are presented in this report, which is an early step in establishing a framework for the research program of the NCRIPTAL (National Center for Research in Postsecondary Teaching and Learning) Program on Curricular Integration and Student Goals. Section 1 on the, literature of college curricula includes: historical and background reports (e.g., Carnegie Council on Policy studies); prescriptive views of quality, related to recommendations of national reports; strategy views, related to the educational process (e.g., national report recommendations, disciplinary approach, and discussions of student development); studies of curricular change (e.g.., those at Alverno College, and liberal arts outcomes research). Definitions of curriculum are offered in the second section, which focuses on pre-college literature, as well as discussions in the literature of: the nature of curriculum development or planning; theoretical assumptions and approaches to curriculum planning and curriculum; cognitive psychology and curriculum development; and the teacher as curriculum planner. The final section proposes six assumptions for use in models of curriculum research, identifying such variables as student involvement, the organization of a discipline, and student outcomes. Fourteen pages of references are included. (LB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Designing the Learning Plan A Review of Research and Theory Related to College Curricula 3 Papers in this series available from NCRIPTAL Approaches to Research on the Improvement of Postsecondary Teaching and Learning: A Working Paper Patricia J. Green and Joan S. Stark Focusing on Student Acadoimic Outcomes: A Working Paper Joanne M. Alexander and Joan S. Stark Postsecondary Teaching and Learning Issues in Search of Researchers: A Working Paper Carol D. Vogel and Joan S. Stark Teaching and Learning in the College Classroom: A Review of the Research Literature Wilbert J. McKeachie, Paul R. Pintrich, Yt -Guang Lin, and David A. F. Smith Psychological Models of the Impact of College on Students Harold A. Korn Faculty as a Key Resource: A Review of the Research Literature Robert T. Blackburn, Janet H. Lawrence, Steven Ross, Virginia Polk Okoloko, Jeffery P. Bieber, Rosalie Mei land, and Terry Street The Organizational Context for Teaching and Learning: A Review of the Research Literature Marvin W. Peterson, Kim S. Cameron, Lisa A. Mets, Philip Jones, and Deborah Etting ton Electronic Information: Literacy Skills for a Computer Age Jerome Johnston Design in Context: A Conceptual Fvamework for the Study of Computer Software in Higher Education Robert Kozma and Robert Bangert-Drowns 4 Designing the Learning Plan A Peview of Research and Theory Related to College Curricula by Joan S. Stark and Malcolm A. Lowther with assistance from Sally Smith Grant Number OERI-86-0010 Joan S. Stark, Director Wilbert J. McKeachie, Associate Director Suite 2400 School of Education Building The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259 (313) 936-2748 Acknowledgments: The authors thank Clifford Adelman, Jack Rossmann, and Patrick Terenzini for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Excerpts of works cited here are reproduced to make you aware of their availability. We encourage you to refer to the works in their entirety and have fully cited works referred to in this report. Because some works were still in draft form at the time of this review, we have cited the draft, which may have been altered in subsequent publication. 0 1986 by the Regents of The University of Michigan The project presented, or reported herein, was performed pursuant to a grant from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement/Department of Education (OERI/ED). However, the opinions expressed herein do not necessar- ily reflect the position or policy of the OERI/ED and no official endorsement by the OERI /ED should be inferred. Contents Introduction 1 Context for the Report 1 The Current State of Knowledge about College Curricula 4 Boundaries of the College Curriculum Literature 6 I. A Summary of Major Writings on College Curricula 11 A. Recent Reviews of Curriculum Literature 11 B. Historical and Background Reports 12 Work of the Carnegie Council on Policy Studies 12 An International Perspective 15 The Current American Scene 16 C. Prescriptive ViewsThe Quality Educaticnal Product 17 Recommendations of the National Reports on Particular Educational Products 18 A "Liberating" Perspective 19 A Research Synthesis on Academic Outcomes 20 D. Strategy ViewsA Focus on the Educational Process 21 Introduction 21 The Educational Process Recommendations from the National Reports 21 A Disciplinary Approach 23 The Curricular Notions of HaMburton 27 A Curricular Classification by Bergquist 28 The Case for Curricular Design 30 Instructional Development Strategies 31 Other Important Contributions 31 Student Achievement and Student Effort 31 Student Development Approaches (Cross) 33 Student Development Approaches (Chickering) 34 Student Development Approaches (Perry) 35 E. Studies of Curricular Change 37 The Alvenio College Studies 38 Winter, McClelland, and Stewart's Research on Liberal Arts Outcomes 40 The Immediate Future 40 F. Summary 42 II. Summary of Precollege Curriculum Literature 45 A. Definitions of Curriculum 45 B. Nature of Curriculum Development or Planning 46 Discourse on the Nature of the Curriculum 46 Literature on Curriculum Research 46 Literature on Curriculum Development 47 C. Theoretical Assumptions for Curriculum Planning 47 D. Approaches to Curriculum Development 49 The Balance of Participation 49 A Knowledge Structure Lase 52 The Dilemmas of Curricular Change 53 t t) E. Frameworks for Building Curricula 54 F. Cognitive Psychology and Curriculum Development 56 G. The Teacher as Curriculum Planner 59 H. Summary 63 III. Models for College Curricular Planning and Research 67 A. Definitions 72 B. Tentative Definitions 74 /C. Conclusion 75 References 77 8 vi Figures 1. The Permeable Boundaries of Literature Bearing on the College Curriculum 7 2. Path for a Student Development and College Impress Model (C. Robert Pace) 32 3. Matrix for Identifying Curriculum Development Strategies (Short) 51 4. Relationship Between the Model of Course Planning and Components of Course Design (Posner & Rudnitsky, 1982) 60 5. A Model of Teacher Thought and Action (Clark & Peterson, 1986) 62 6. Tentative Curriculum Design Model 71 vii Designing the Learning Plan Introduction The primary tasks of NCRIPTAL's Research Program on Curricular Integration and Student Purposes are to establish a framework for systematic research concerning college curricula, to field test the framework, and to design and commence collaborative studies that may assist colleges in determining the potential effect of various curricular strategies on learning outcomes for students of different backgrounds and goals. This technical report is an early step !.n establishing a framework for the research program. As such, it examines a wide variety of alternative ways in which discourse concerning college curricula could be solidly based on documented evidence and selects the most promising of these for further development. Thus, the technical report has three specific purposes and, correspondingly, after an initial introduction and context statement, the report is organized in three sections: Section I summarizes recent literature about college curricula, noting the particular foci, strengths and deficiencies of existing persuasive arguments, frameworks and research models. In order to focus the review, a scheme to establish boundaries of the relevant literature is first presented. Subsequent sections cover (1) general reviews of the curriculum literature in higher education, (2) background works (historical treatments, descriptions of current practice); (3) literature concerned with the educational product, including (a) exhortative writinE,or frameworks describing v'ews of good quality education or what college students should learn and (b) empirical studies concerned with educational outcomes, (4) literature concerned with the educational process, particularly curricular planning or design, and (5) discussions and research on curricular change. The section concludes with our prediction that the balance
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Overcoming the Crisis in Curriculum Theory: a Knowledge-Based Approach Michael Young Version of Record First Published: 05 Apr 2013
    This article was downloaded by: [Institute of Education] On: 24 April 2013, At: 05:23 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Curriculum Studies Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tcus20 Overcoming the crisis in curriculum theory: a knowledge-based approach Michael Young Version of record first published: 05 Apr 2013. To cite this article: Michael Young (2013): Overcoming the crisis in curriculum theory: a knowledge- based approach, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 45:2, 101-118 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2013.764505 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and- conditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. J. CURRICULUM STUDIES, 2013 Vol. 45, No. 2, 101–118, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2013.764505 Overcoming the crisis in curriculum theory: a knowledge-based approach MICHAEL YOUNG This paper begins by identifying what it sees as the current crisis in curriculum theory.
    [Show full text]
  • From Course Objectives, They Should Develop Their Tests Based on A
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 316 164 HE 023 289 AUTHOR MacCuish, Donald A. TITLE Bridging the Gap between Curriculum and Instruction: A Look at Beauchamp. PUB DATE 89 NOTE 6p. PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Curriculum Development; Educational Planning; *Educational Theories; *Foundations of Education; Higher Education; *Instruction; Instructional Development; Models; Student Educational Objectives IDENTIFIERS Beauchamp (George) ABSTRACT George Beauchamp's 1968 book, "Curriculum Theory," stresses the importance of developing subordinate constructs, or theoretical relationships, with other components of education, until ground rules are laid down through meanings ascribed to the term "curriculnm". According to Beauchamp, theories have three functions: to describe what is going on, help predict what will happen in given situations, and explain things that have already occurred. Beauchamp's four 1 els of theories are: categories of theories; theories in the applied areas of knowledge; subtheories in applied areas; and sublevels to the theories within the applied areas. The Course Development Model ties curriculum and instruction together and is based on Beauchamp's ideas concerning curriculum theory. It states that faculty should use course descriptions contained in college/university catalogues to develop their course objectives. From course objectives, they should develop their tests based on a taxonomy of educational objectives to ensure that materials being evaluated are being done using the
    [Show full text]
  • John Dewey's Theory of Experience and Learning
    24 Towards a Flexible Curriculum John Dewey's Theory of Experience and Learning Joop W. A. Berding Introduction In what I call the technological approach some traits from the teacher or subject-centered tradition can be recognized In the history of curriculum we see lines of divergence and in what I have named Bildung some traits from the child- into two separate schools. On the one hand, we can find a centered tradition can be discerned. view that emphasizes the school-based distribution of selected Looking at contemporary educational theory, of which knowledge. 'Education' is conceptualized as intervention, (i.e. curriculum theory is an essential part, one can see that the the transmission of a bulk of tradition-given, indisputable first school has become the dominant one, as a sort of knowledge), in which the experiences of the learner (inside 'standard-view' of curriculum. Summarized, its main features or outside the school) only count in relation to externally include: defined objectives. The success of education is primarily 1. a conglomeration of atomistic, cognitivistic, de- measured in terms of 'qualification,' that is meeting up to socialized, de-personalized and de-contextualized predetermined, 'objective' standards. We might call this a 'fillings', mostly defined as 'subject matter' or technological, product-oriented outlook on education and studies; curriculum. Its keywords are transmission and control. 2. a catalogue or canon, that is an autonomous, almost On the other hand there is a tradition in which the pupil/ unpersonal entity, isolated from and a priori to the learner is in the center of the educational process.
    [Show full text]
  • Critical Race Theory in Education: Analyzing African American Students’ Experience with Epistemological Racism and Eurocentric Curriculum
    DePaul University Via Sapientiae College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences 6-2019 Critical race theory in education: analyzing African American students’ experience with epistemological racism and eurocentric curriculum Sana Bell DePaul University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/etd Recommended Citation Bell, Sana, "Critical race theory in education: analyzing African American students’ experience with epistemological racism and eurocentric curriculum" (2019). College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 272. https://via.library.depaul.edu/etd/272 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Via Sapientiae. It has been accepted for inclusion in College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Via Sapientiae. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CRITICAL RACE THEORY: EPISTEMOLOGICAL RACISM Critical Race Theory in Education: Analyzing African American Students’ Experience with Epistemological Racism and Eurocentric Curriculum June, 2019 BY Sana Bell Interdisciplinary Self-Designed Program College of Liberal Arts and Sciences DePaul University Chicago, Illinois 1 CRITICAL RACE THEORY: EPISTEMOLOGICAL RACISM Contents Abstract 3 Section 1 Introduction: The Intersection of White Supremacy Ideology and Curriculum— Epistemological Racism 4 Purpose 4 Conceptual,
    [Show full text]
  • Issues and Prospects of Effetive Implementation of New Secondary School Curriculum in Nigeria
    Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.6, No.34, 2015 Issues and Prospects of Effetive Implementation of New Secondary School Curriculum in Nigeria Ali A. Ahmadi Mumuye Departmet, C.O.E., P.M.B 1021, Zing, Taraba State Ajibola A. Lukman Educational Foundations, Department, C.O.E., P.M.B 1021, Zing, Taraba State Abstract This paper digs into the issues surrounding effective implementation of new secondary school curriculum in Nigeria. This is based on the feeling that 21 st century education is characterized with a dramatic technological revolution. The paper therefore portrays education in the 21 st century as a total departure from the factory-model education of the past. It is abandonment of teacher centered, paper and pencil schooling. It means a new way of understanding the concept of knowledge, a new definition of the educated person. The paper argues that society institutionalized education as a tool to reform society and creates change for the betterment. Hence, authentic education addresses the whole child, the whole person and does not limit our professional development and curriculum design to workplace readiness. To this end, there is every need to review the status quo of secondary school curriculum in Nigeria in order to consolidate further the new basic education programme and to ensure the actualization of the Federal government national developmental programme especially in the area of human capital development. Finally, the paper recommends massive advocacy and sensitization of teachers, students, parents and school administrators and supervisors who are the end-users of the new curriculum for its effective implementation.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrating Cultural Values Into the Curriculum for Kenyan Schools. PUB DATE 2003-00-00 NOTE 24P
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 477 141 SO 034 559 AUTHOR Maina, Faith TITLE Integrating Cultural Values into the Curriculum for Kenyan Schools. PUB DATE 2003-00-00 NOTE 24p. PUB TYPE Opinion Papers (120) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MFO1 /PCO1 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Colonialism; *Curriculum Development; *Curriculum Problems; *Educational History; Foreign Countries; Public Education IDENTIFIERS Cultural Values; *Kenya ABSTRACT A strong cultural identity enables individuals to become independent and self-reliant people who function in their own environment. People who have little sense of their cultural identity or have been alienated from their culture can become dependent and lack skills for meaningful survival in their own environment. This predicament is particularly pronounced in societies that have suffered colonial domination in the past and that find themselves socializing their children with the cultural values and world view of the colonizing power which undermines their own cultural identity. In the republic of Kenya, this problem has been acknowledged and documented by academics and educators. There seems to be a lack of political will to make radical and effective changes to the curriculum. This paper offers a historical overview of colonial education in Kenya, examining curriculum development in a broad outline form, starting with the pre-colonial indigenous curriculum and moving to the colonial and post-colonial curriculum. Kenyan curriculum has failed to live up to the basic definition of the word curriculum and has contradicted a fundamental determinant of curriculum development--failure to integrate the local cultural values into the curriculum. The paper provides suggestions for addressing some of the problems outlined in the overview.
    [Show full text]
  • Belonging and Learning to Belong in School: the Implications of the Hidden Curriculum for Indigenous Students Kiara Rahman*
    Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 2013 Vol. 34, No. 5, 660Á672, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2013.728362 Belonging and learning to belong in school: the implications of the hidden curriculum for indigenous students Kiara Rahman* David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research (DUCIER), University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia This paper engages with current educational literature in Australia and internationally, in exploring the implications of the hidden curriculum for Indigenous students. It argues that in schools, most of the learning rules or guidelines reflect the ‘white’ dominant culture values and practices, and that it is generally those who don’t have the cultural match-ups that schooling requires for success, such as Indigenous and minority students, who face the most educational disadvantage. Howard and Perry argue that Indigenous students ‘...need to feel that schools belong to them as much as any child’ and that to ‘...move towards the achievement of potential of Aboriginal students, it is important that Aboriginal culture and language are accepted in the classroom’. This paper will also provide a discussion into school-based strategies that are considered effective for engaging Indigenous students with school. Keywords: indigenous education; cultural knowledge; hidden curriculum; inclusive education; culturally responsive schooling; bi-cultural education Introduction It goes without saying that each child will experience education differently. The type of school they attend, the relationships they maintain with their teachers and peers, along with their family backgrounds and prior knowledge (skills and abilities), impact on the outcomes students produce in school. When students enter school, they meet a specific curriculum, a programme of study that they are to learn within, with the guidance of their teachers.
    [Show full text]
  • Sciences Teacher Education Curriculum Re-Alignment: Science Education Lecturers’ Perspectives of Knowledge Integration at South African Universities
    http://jct.sciedupress.com Journal of Curriculum and Teaching Vol. 7, No. 1; 2018 Sciences Teacher Education Curriculum Re-alignment: Science Education Lecturers’ Perspectives of Knowledge Integration at South African Universities Kwanele Booi1,* & Mamsie Ethel Khuzwayo1 1Faculty of Education, SP-FET Department, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Mowbray, South Africa *Correspondence: Faculty of Education, SP-FET Department, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Mowbray, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] Received: November 13, 2017 Accepted: November 22, 2017 Online Published: February 7, 2018 doi:10.5430/jct.v7n1p52 URL: https://doi.org/10.5430/jct.v7n1p52 Abstract A qualitative case study was conducted at six purposively sampled universities; out of a population of approximately 23 universities. This sampling strategy was based on selecting some universities that became Universities of Technology during the process of merging Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) while other universities kept their identity; currently being referred to as Traditional Universities. In-depth interviews and analysis of curriculum documents were used as sources of data acquisition to address the aim and questions explored by this study explored; necessitated by the need to implement Minimum Requirements for Teaching Education Qualification (MRTEQ) policy guidelines. The sampled universities’ identities were concealed and pseudonyms were assigned to participants for ethical reasons. Qualitative methods were applied for data analysis. Findings revealed that for some institutions’ integration of sub-disciples of science curriculum led to contestations and debates resulting from different philosophical perceptions held by subject specialists in the curriculum design process. Knowledge integration continues to be a contested field in universities that typifies resistance to change.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Curriculum Customization in the Era of Standardization of Education Sylvia A
    Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs) Summer 8-26-2019 A Study of Curriculum Customization in the Era of Standardization of Education Sylvia A. Dixon McInerney Seton Hall University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, and the Educational Leadership Commons Recommended Citation Dixon McInerney, Sylvia A., "A Study of Curriculum Customization in the Era of Standardization of Education" (2019). Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 2698. https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2698 A STUDY OF CURRICULUM CUSTOMIZATION IN THE ERA OF STANDARDIZATION OF EDUCATION By SYLVIA A. DIXON MCINERNEY Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of EducAtion DepArtment of EducAtion LeAdership, MAnAgement And Policy Seton HAll University August 2019 © 2019 SylviA A. Dixon McInerney ii SETON HALL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES APPROVAL FOR SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE Sylvia A. Dixon-McInerney has successfully defended And mAde the required modificAtions to the text of the doctorAl dissertAtion for the Ed.D. during this Summer Semester 2019. DISSERTATION COMMITTEE The mentor And Any other committee members who wish to review revisions will sign And dAte this document only when revisions hAve been completed. PleAse return this form to the Office of GrAduAte Studies, where it will be placed in the cAndidate's file And submit A copy with your finAl dissertAtion to be bound As pAge number two.
    [Show full text]
  • Instruction, Curriculum and Society: Iterations Based on the Ideas of William Doll
    International Journal of Instruction January 2012 ● Vol.5, No.1 e-ISSN: 1308-1470 ● www.e-iji.net p-ISSN: 1694-609X INSTRUCTION, CURRICULUM AND SOCIETY: ITERATIONS BASED ON THE IDEAS OF WILLIAM DOLL “How wonderful that we have met with a paradox. Now we have some hope of making progress.” Niels Boh Sonja Varbelow Field-Based Teaching Specialist, University of Texas at Brownsville, USA [email protected] This paper explores the relationship between society and school from the point of view of chaos theory with the purpose to understand the deficiencies in teacher education programs and to offer suggestions for their improvement. Based on the ideas of the postmodern curriculum theorist William Doll, it examines the paradigm shifts of world views from pre-modern to post-modern times and their implications for education. The methodology is theoretical analysis. The findings will show that classrooms are fractal in nature and reflect the society of which they are a part. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that the function of school goes beyond passing generations along or changing society. Today’s schools must bridge the gap between a modernist education system and a post-modern, globalized knowledge society. The paper concludes with examples that use those findings to improve the praxis of pre-service teacher education. Key Words: William Doll, chaos theory, fractals, schools, pre-service teacher education INTRODUCTION As an instructor for pre-service teachers, I start every semester with groups of students who have come to my courses with two objectives: 1. they expect me to make them “effective teachers” by giving them blueprint instructions for teaching and 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Hidden Curriculum As One of Current Issue of Curriculum
    Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.6, No.33, 2015 Hidden Curriculum as One of Current Issue of Curriculum Merfat Ayesh Alsubaie Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology, K-12 Leadership, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Abstract There are several issues in the education system, especially in the curriculum field that affect education. Hidden curriculum is one of current controversial curriculum issues. Many hidden curricular issues are the result of assumptions and expectations that are not formally communicated, established, or conveyed within the learning environment. Thus, awareness of hidden curricular issues becomes a consideration, which has negative and positive influences. Keywords: Curriculum issue, hidden curriculum, positive and negative impact. 1. Introduction Understanding the influential factors at work within learning environment in the school or the classroom is a growing area of interest. Hidden expectations, skill sets, knowledge, and social process can help or hinder student achievement and belief systems. A hidden curriculum refers to the unspoken or implicit values, behaviors, procedures, and norms that exist in the educational setting. While such expectations are not explicitly written, hidden curriculum is the unstated promotion and enforcement of certain behavioral patterns, professional standards, and social beliefs while navigating a learning environment (Miller & Seller, 1990). This argumentative study is investigated how hidden curriculum issue transpired in learning environments of institutional and organization systems. Therefore, this paper will focus on the scholarly literature to show the hidden curriculum as the one of the problems, which most common in the curriculum.
    [Show full text]
  • Psychological Influences in the Curriculum Decision Making Process
    Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.4, No.8, 2013 Psychological Influences in the Curriculum Decision Making Process Anne Syomwene (Ph.D) 1*; Kisilu Kitainge (Ph.D) 2; Marcella Mwaka (PhD) 3 1*Moi University, Kenya 2University of Eldoret, Kenya 3Moi University, Kenya *Email of corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract This paper is a discussion on how psychology as a discipline influences the curriculum decision making process. Psychology provides a basis for understanding the teaching and learning process. Indeed, teaching the curriculum and learning the curriculum are interrelated and psychology cements the relationship. The argument advanced in this paper is that the curriculum decision making process cannot be undertaken effectively without adequate psychological considerations. The paper explores the psychological considerations on the basis of three broad theories of learning advanced by psychologists: Behavioral theories, cognitive and developmental theories and lastly the humanistic theories of learning. Key words : Psychology, curriculum, teaching and learning theories 1. Introduction Curriculum means the sum total of all the experiences that a pupil undergoes within the guidance of the school. On the other hand, curriculum decision making process is the process regarding the determination of the educational objectives, learning experiences and methods of evaluation in the curriculum building endeavor. This paper will utilize the definition of curriculum provided by (Wiles, 2005:7) that “Curriculum is a set of values that is activated through a development process and culminates in classroom experiences for students” Educational Psychology as a discipline is concerned with the question of how people learn.
    [Show full text]