An experience-centered curriculum is based on students' interests and experiences rather than predefined knowledge. The teacher creates a stimulating learning environment for students to explore, make discoveries, and observe others. Students essentially design their own learning by constructing and revising knowledge through hands-on participation and observation. For Dewey, education should start with students' existing experiences and interests, which are personal and constantly changing. The teacher analyzes students' experiences to continually adapt the curriculum to their needs.

2. Experience-Centered
Curriculum Design
O closely related to child-centered designs in
that children’s concerns are the basis for
organizing children’s school world.
O But they differ in the children’s needs and
interests cannot be anticipated.
O Curriculum framework CANNOT be
PLANNED for all children.

4. Teacher’s task
O To create a stimulating learning
environment in which students can
explore, come into direct contact with
knowledge and observe others’ learning
and actions.
O To provide opportunities, not to mandate
certain actions.

6. STUDENTS essentially design
their own learning ; they
CONSTRUCT and REVISE their
knowledge through direct
participation and active
observation.

8. For John Dewey…
O Interest was purposeful.
O Education should commence with the
experience learners already possessed
when they entered school.
O Experience was essentially the starting
point for all further learning.
O Children exist in a personal world of
experiences.

9. O Their interests are personal
concerns, rather than bodies of
knowledge.
“The easy thing is to seize upon something in the nature of the
child, or upon something in the developed consciousness of
the adult, insist upon that as the key to the whole problem.”
-Dewey, 1900

10. Starting
Interests
Point
Experience-Centered
Design
Personal Personal
Experience Concerns

11. Dewey wanted EDUCATORS to:
O ANALYZE children’s experiences and see
how these experiences shaped children’s
knowledge.
O THINK of the child’s experience as fluid
and dynamic. Thus, the curriculum would
continually change to address students
needs.

12. O Those who have faith in each student’s
uniqueness and ability.
O Those who believe that an open, free
school environment will stimulate all
students to excel.

13. TEACHER who has design an experience-
centered curriculum has designed potential
experiences for students to consider.
STUDENTS are empowered to shape their
own learning within the context furnished by
the teachers.