The hidden curriculum refers to the unstated lessons, values, and perspectives that students learn in school. It includes the unwritten and unintended things students learn through their interactions with teachers and peers and the overall school structures and environment. The hidden curriculum can reinforce or contradict the formal curriculum and is often unacknowledged. It is conveyed through teaching strategies, classroom interactions, and how the school organizes students and programs. The hidden curriculum can influence students' social skills, ability to interpret messages, and capacity to work effectively through daily experiences in the educational system.
2. Hidden curriculum is a concept that
describes the often unarticulated and
unacknowledged things students are
taught in school and that may affect
their learning experience. These are
often unspoken and implied lessons
unrelated to the academic courses
they're taking — things learned from
simply being in school.
(Crossman, 2018)
DEFINITION
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3. HIDDEN CURRICULUM
Jerald (2006) noted that
when teachers are aware
of the importance and
influence of hidden
curriculum, they will
always review their
personal attitudes with
their students in the
classroom.
It should be noted
that a hidden
curriculum can
reinforce the lessons
of the formal
curriculum, or it can
contradict the formal
curriculum.
The hidden
curriculum is
described as “hidden”
because it is usually
unacknowledged or
unexamined by
students, educators,
and the wider
community.
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5. For example, a teacher may give a tough task to be accomplished by his or her
students in a class, and expect all the students to be able to accomplish the task
excellently. This is called the high-expectations class, where the students can learn
effectively and experience a great sense of accomplishment as they will work hard
in order to reach the expectation set. (Gatto, 2017).
ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE
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6. TEACHING STRATEGIES
Teaching strategies vary for all teachers. Every
teacher needs to figure out the best teaching
strategies that will benefit their students the
most.
The way that schools and teachers choose to
educate students can convey both intentional
and unintended messages.
For example, award the students for doing
well (eg: listening attentively) so that they learn
that compliance is important.
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7. SCHOOL STRUCTURES
The way that a school or academic program
is organized and operated can convey
messages to students.
(Education Reform Organization, 2015).
For instance, a school may separate students
with learning difficulties or disabilities from the
normal ones. This organizational decision may
have unintended effects on the students as they
will see their flaws more clearly and will start
questioning their self-worth and potential, as to
why are they not treated the same as others.
Source: Writing Interventions for Children, from
https://www.ldatschool.ca/writing-interventions-for-
children-in-grades-one-to-six-with-learning-disabilities/
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8. RESULTS OF
HIDDEN CURRICULUM
INTERPRETING
MESSAGES
• Teachers interact
with students
when giving
instructions,
teaching etc. with
all the
interactions that
take place,
students learn to
interpret
messages or
information
better.
SOCIALIZING
• Attending school
means meeting
and working with
people, also
making friends.
Students will
automatically
improve in social
skills by
socializing with
more people
every day.
WORKING
EFFECTIVELY
• Students learn
new things every
day at school.
They get to figure
out more of how
things work and
the best ways for
them to work, by
practising the
same things and
trying out new
things every day.
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9. CONCLUSION
The hidden curriculum works in various ways through many
different methods, intentionally or unintentionally. Experiences of
individuals in educational system through hidden may positively or
negatively affect growths. The hidden curriculum is a crucial
curriculum that needs to be applied in schools or in higher learning
as it has firm power in influencing students. However, the hidden
curriculum is often unacknowledged, making its lessons difficult to
be read or seen, but still, it happens in every school and learning
institution.
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10. REFERENCES
• Lawrence, B. (2014). Writing Interventions for Children in Grades One to Six with Learning Disabilities.
Retrieved from https://www.ldatschool.ca/writing-interventions-for-children-in-grades-one-to-six-with-
learning-disabilities/
• Alsubaie, M.A. (2015). Hidden Curriculum as One of The Current Issues of Curriculum. Journal of
Education and Practice. 6(33).
• Crossman, A. (2018). What Is Hidden Curriculum?. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/hidden-
curriculum-3026346
• Education Reform Organization. (2015). Hidden Curriculum. Retrieved from
https://www.edglossary.org/hidden-curriculum/
• Gatto, J.T. (2017). Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Cumpolsory Schooling. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.my/books?id=NSLUDgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=hidden+curriculum&hl
=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbzK6e5drdAhUMuo8KHST_A9IQ6AEIOjAD#v=onepage&q=hidden%20curricul
um&f=false
• Jerald, M. (2017). What is Hidden Curriculum?. Retrieved from https://culturalprod.weebly.com/aspect-
hidden-curriculum.html
