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Curriculum Development and Change Essay

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INTRODUCTION

There seems to be a lot of controversy and uncertainty as to ¡¥what is the curriculum?¡¦ As such, there is a distributing lack of consensus on an all-embracing definition of this comprehensive concept. This is, in part, due to the various interpretations, meanings, emphasis and approaches that the scholars of curriculum studies embark upon. This, in turn, leaves the education practitioners and the general public in the dark as to what constitutes that which should be considered as ¡¥good curriculum practice¡¦ in educational institutions.

This exposition seeks to highlight and evaluate the key concepts of the curriculum and some of the factors that have marked influence on curriculum planning, curriculum development and …show more content…

The product view entails a plan to be followed by the teachers (blue print) in carrying out the didactic activities. The practice view encompasses all the activities that inform the occurrences in an educational institution.

In a nutshell, the narrow perspective pays more attention on the intentions, plans or ideas regarding what should happen in a school. On the contrary, the broad perspective focuses on the existing state of affairs and recognises the actual happenings based on social constructs.

2.1 DIFFERENT FORMS OF CURRICULUM
Lengthy debates pertaining to the definition of the curriculum, among curriculists, have culminated in the emergence of divergent connotations and hence various forms of the curriculum namely:

2.1.1. Formal or ¡¥official¡¦ curriculum
A planned and documented form of the curriculum.

2.1.2. ¡¥Actual¡¦ curriculum
- That which takes place when the ¡¥official¡¦ curriculum is implemented.

2.1.3. ¡¥Hidden¡¦ curriculum
The values, beliefs and norms of behaviour that are communicated implicitly through the process of socialisation; intentionally or unintentionally. The hidden curriculum is accidental in nature and is a by-product of planned activities. Social and sex roles are acquired through this form of the curriculum.

2.1.4 ¡¥Common¡¦ curriculum
This form of the curriculum seeks to address the imbalances and inequities that existed in racially-divided

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