Curriculum Ideologieslecture 1

Dr. Douglas Fleming

Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

There are four basic orientations (or ideologies) in regards to general education curricula:

Scholar/ Academic Social Efficiency Learner Centered Social Reconstruction

Schiro (2008)

Scholar/ Academic Ideology

often called ‘rationalist’, ‘traditional’, ‘knowledge-centered’, ‘intellectual’ or ‘canon-centered’.

the purpose of education is to impart accumulated knowledge from culture and tradition

knowledge is constructed by academic disciplines: hierarchically-based communities searching for objective truths

curricula are constructed in ways that impart these truths to a new generation of students

all students should be exposed to disciplinary knowledge regardless of their vocational goals

an important prerequisite for participatory citizenship, critical thinking and social cohesion

often popular in times of political crisis

associated with Lester Ward, Charles Eliot, W.E. DuBois, E.D. Hirsch, and Allan Bloom

basis of current disciplinary models of secondary school curricula

students are being initiated into disciplinary knowledge

imparting the basic tenants of the pertinent field

but, this is not a matter of inculcating encyclopedic knowledge

students should think and behave like novice members of a discipline

“participate in the process that makes possible the establishment of knowledge” (Bruner, 1966, p.72).

Social Efficiency Ideology

often called ‘technological’’, ‘social behaviorist’, or ‘systems-based’.

the purpose of education is to develop people who are educated and trained for the needs of society or a specific milieu

curricula designed to achieve clearly defined concrete and measurable terminal objectives that are determined systematically and through scientifically-based procedures

students learn by doing

the focus of instruction is on the mastery of skills and behaviors through practice

learning occurs in terms of cause/ effect and stimulus/ response

instruction is geared towards specific work or home related purposes

there is no need for all students to learn a uniform basic body of knowledge as a prerequisite for more advanced training

the selection and sequencing of instructional content is key

steps:define appropriate learning objectives;establish useful learning experiences;organize learning experiences to have a

maximum cumulative effect;evaluate and revise the curriculum.

stress on accountability to stakeholders

associated with Franklin Bobbitt, Ralph Tyler and B.F. Skinner

Learner-Centered Ideology

often called ‘progressive’, ‘experiential’, ‘child study’, ‘self-actualization’ or ‘humanist’.

the purpose of education is to meet the needs of individuals so that they can grow in harmony with their own unique talents, skills and desires.

curricula are designed to expose students to contexts and influences that will stimulate growth and the construction of unique forms of meaning.

all students are unique

pedagogy is centered on the vision of an ideal school which emphasizes first-hand experience, play, experimentation, and hands-on activities.

activities often have a focus that extends beyond the wall of the school

active democratic citizenship is emphasized

associated with John Dewey, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Howard Gardner, Fredrich Froebel, G. Stanley Hall and Francis Parker

students are encouraged to become autonomous learners

learners are whole people engaged in the construction of meaning (constructivism)

learning occurs in stages and is done through many different types of styles

teachers are generalists, facilitators, diagnosticians and providers of learning environments

“a child’s own instincts… furnish the starting point for all education” (Dewey, 1897, p.77).

Social Reconstruction Ideology

often called ‘critical’, or ‘society-centered’.

the purpose of education is to help create a more just society.

based on an analysis of society as being rife with crisis and inequalities based on problematic constructions of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and class.

curricula are designed to foster a commitment to societal change that addresses the above inequalities.

knowledge is socially constructed through experience

people shape their viewpoints through experiences in cultural practices and in the context of societal crisis

pedagogy is centered on the vision of an ideal society

associated with Lester Frank Ward, A. S. Neill, Ivan Illich, John Dewey, Miles Horton, Paulo Freire, Neil Postman and Charles Weingarten.

students should reevaluate their assumptions and viewpoints so that they become committed to societal change

activities within school should lead to actions outside of school

teachers have a collegial relationship with their students

“There is no such thing as teachers and students, but teacher/students and student/teachers ” (Freire, 1970, p.67).

What curriculum orientation (or ideology) do you base your work on now?

What is the most ideal one for you and your students?

Is there a combination of orientations that work best?

What would need to happen for you to change an orientation?