The document discusses curriculum and factors that influence curriculum development. It defines curriculum as the lessons and academic content taught in a school or course, including learning standards, lessons, materials, and assessments. It identifies several factors that influence curriculum development, including political, social, economic, technological, environmental, and child psychology factors. For example, politics influences curriculum through funding and standards, while technology impacts curriculum development through increased computer use and new degree programs.

2. CURRICULUM
The term curriculum refers to the lessons
and academic content taught in a school or in a
specific course or program. In dictionaries,
curriculum is often defined as the courses
offered by a school, but it is rarely used in such a
general sense in schools.

3. Depending on how broadly educators define or
employ the term, curriculum typically refers to the
knowledge and skills students are expected to learn, which
includes the learning standards or learning objectives they
are expected to meet. The units and lessons that teachers
teach; the assignments and projects given to students; the
books, materials, videos, presentations, and readings used
in a course; and the tests, assessments, and other methods
used to evaluate student learning.

4. An individual teacher’s curriculum, for example,
would be the specific learning standards, lessons,
assignments, and materials used to organize and teach a
particular course. In many cases, teachers develop their
own curricula, often refining and improving them over
years, although it is also common for teachers to adapt
lessons and syllabi created by other teachers, use
curriculum templates and guides to structure their
lessons and courses, or purchase prepackaged curricula
from individuals and companies.

5. In some cases, schools purchase comprehensive,
multigrade curriculum packages - often in a particular
subject area, such as mathematics - that teachers are
required to use or follow. Curriculum may also
encompass a school’s academic requirements for
graduation, such as the courses students have to take
and pass, the number of credits students must
complete, and other requirements.

7. Factors that influence
Curriculum Development

8. Several factors affect all curriculum development in
meeting the needs of 21st century learners in both organized
academic settings and corporation learning centers. Factors
affecting curriculum development include government rules,
which in turn brings other factors into the process. Valid
curriculum development requires awareness of the diversity of
the target community socially, financially and psychologically.
1. Political 4. Technological
2. Social 5. Environmental
3. Economic 6. Child Psychology

9. 1. Political factor
Politics affect curriculum development in numerous ways.
How politics influences curriculum design and development starts
with funding. Both private and public educational institutions rely
on funding for hiring personnel, building and maintaining facilities
and equipment. All aspects of curriculum depend on local, state
and national political standards.
Example
Politics affects curriculum development from defining
goals, interpreting curricular materials to approving examination
systems,

10. 2. Social factor
Society has its own expectations about the aims and
objectives that should be considered when designing the
curriculum. It also has a perception of what the product of the
school system should look like. It is therefore necessary for
curriculum designers to take in to account these societal
considerations.
Example
Subjects which has gender education and political
economy have proved difficult to include in the curriculum
because of the resistance from some religious groups.

11. 3. Economic factor
Economics influences curriculum development.
Curriculum developed for in house training in corporations focuses
on educating employees for promotions that bring better returns
in profits. Nations financing education expect an economic return
from educated students contributing to the country's economy
with global competition abilities in technical fields
Example
Nations financing education expect an economic return
from educated students contributing to the country's economy
with global competition abilities in technical fields

12. 4. Technological
Technology driven curriculum development is the norm of
the 21st century.
The computer technology of the 21st century influences
curriculum development at every level of learning. Learning
centers and classrooms increasingly provide computers as
requisite interaction for studies among students. Technological
multimedia use influences educational goals and learning
experiences among students.

13. Example
v Undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer technology
increases in popularity.
v Diversity
Curriculum development affect from diversity opens
learning opportunities. Social diversity including religion, culture
and social groupings affects curriculum development because
these characteristics influence the types of topics and methods for
teaching information. Developing relevant curriculum takes into
account society's expectations, accommodating group traditions
and promoting equality.

14. 5. Environment
Environment issues affect curriculum development.
World awareness and action toward reversing and ending
pollution continues affecting curriculum development. Typical
elementary classrooms teach recycling and healthy
environmental practices.
Example:
Higher education in the sciences offer environmentally-
focused degrees. e.g
Environmental degree ,bio-technology etc.

15. 6. Child psychology
Many students with a masters or PhD degree in developmental
psychology work in educational settings as school psychologists,
which makes sense when considering the emphasis placed on the
formative years. However, there are several developmental
psychology concentrations available on which students can focus:
o Developmental Studies for Educators
o Aging
o Infancy, Childhood or Adolescence
o Lifespan Development
o Biological Bases of Development

16. Example:
The developmental psychology curriculum
examines the changes in personality, cognitive ability
and behavior throughout the lifespan. Therefore, in
addition to preparing themselves for a rewarding career,
students enrolled in developmental psychology curricula
will also learn and understand more about themselves
as they study the scientific conclusions made by experts
in the field.