1. The Curriculum: A Search
for Meaning
ESP410 – Human Movement Pedagogy 3

2. Background
Lack of consensus about the meaning of
curriculum:
"A survey of a dozen curriculum books
would be likely to reveal a dozen different
images or characterisations of curriculum. It
might even reveal more because the same
author may use the term in different ways."

3. Curriculum Definitions:
Curriculum is "all the planned
experiences provided by the school to
assist the pupils in attaining the
designated learning outcomes to the
best of their abilities."
Neagley and Evans

4. Curriculum Definitions:
Curriculum is the substance of the
school program. It is the content
pupils are expected to learn.
Orlosky and Smith

5. Curriculum Definitions:
A curriculum is the set of instructional
strategies teachers plan to use.
Posner
A structured series of intended learning
outcomes.
Johnson

6. Curriculum Definitions:
The planned experiences offered to the
learner under the guidance of the school.
Wheeler
Curriculum is the planned composite effort
of any school to guide pupil learning toward
predetermined learning outcomes.
Inlow

7. Curriculum Definitions:
Classroom practice ... what happens
between teacher, children and the
content ... is the curriculum.
Boomer

8. Input into Curriculum
Content
Governments
- increase productivity of human
resources
Business Community
- means by which students gain the
requisite knowledge and skills to make
them productive workers
- ie outcomes relevant to employment
opportunities and needs

9. Input into Curriculum
Content
Parents
- views often shaped by their own
experiences as students as well as by
the aspirations they have for their
children
Students
- personal, social, vocational aspirations

10. The Curriculum
"If curriculum is seen as the means by which
young people and adults gain the essential
knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to
be productive and informed citizens in a
democratic society, then everyone in the
community has a stake in the shape and
form that the curriculum takes."
Brady and Kennedy

11. The Curriculum Process
The development of a curriculum involves
the developer in decisions about the nature
and appropriateness of the substantive
elements, eg the:
•objectives
•content
•method
•assessment strategies
These decisions are made in relation to the context in which
the curriculum will operate.

12. Situation Analysis
An appraisal of the situation
(situation analysis) informs decisions
about each curriculum element.

13. Situation Analysis
It is the process of examining the learning
context in which the curriculum is to
operate:
eg characteristics of the:
•school
•staff
•students

14. Situation Analysis
Normally undertaken prior to the
process of curriculum development,
but it should not be seen only as a
preliminary step only.

15. Situation Analysis Involves:
Needs assessment
- educational needs, and
- determining priorities on the
basis of these needs.

16. Situation Analysis Involves:
School audit
- questioning current provision and
practice
- eg in terms of :
assessment
reporting
student welfare
parent-community relationship
school management

17. Situation Analysis Involves:
Analysis factors that constitute the situation:
External:
– cultural and social change
– educational system requirements
– the changing nature of subject matter
– resources

18. Situation Analysis Involves:
Analysis factors that constitute the situation:
Internal:
Students
- needs
- abilities
- personal characteristics
Teachers
- abilities
- teaching style
- strengths / weaknesses

19. Situation Analysis Involves:
Analysis factors that constitute the situation:
Internal (cont):
School ethos
- organisational climate
- traditions
Resources
- materials
- equipment
- facilities