This document discusses four major theories of curriculum development: 1. Social meliorism posits that education can improve society by increasing individual intelligence regardless of background. 2. John Dewey's theory focuses on connecting subjects to students' everyday lives and categorizes behaviors into expressive, constructive, artistic and social instincts. 3. Social efficiency aims to educate students according to aptitude as determined by IQ tests in order to funnel them into professions. 4. Developmentalism bases the curriculum on students' emotional and behavioral characteristics rather than IQ or instincts.

1. THEORIES OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
By Dr. G R Angadi
Assistant Professor & Research Guide, BLDEA’s JSS College of Education, P.G. Dept. of Studies and
Research Centre in Education, Vijayapur-586101 Karnataka.
What are Different Curriculum Theories?
Some of the different curriculum theories include social meliorism, John Dewey's theory,
social efficiency and developmentalism. Curriculum theories are used to shape and develop
curriculum. Since there is such a broad field of curriculum studies, there are a variety of theories
used to define the learning process of children.
1. Social Meliorists Theory
Those that believe that education reforms and changes society for the better are social
meliorists. This type of curriculum theory is based on the individual student's intelligence and
how to improve the intelligence by using education. The person's future was not predetermined
by his or her race or socioeconomic status but, rather, by his or her education or lack thereof.
2. John Dewey's Theory
John Dewey's theory of curriculum focuses on the idea that education should incorporate
how a child views his or her world. This theory uses four instincts to categorize a child's
behavior. These instincts are expressive, constructive, artistic and social. His theory connects the
subjects that are taught to a child's everyday life.
3. Social Efficiency Theory
The social efficiency theorist's goal is to educate children according to his or her
proficiency. In this educational model, each child is given an intelligence quotient, or IQ, test.
The scores from that test determine the course of education for that child.
4. Developmentalism Theory
In developmentalism, children are educated according to their emotional and behavioral
qualities. Children's characteristics, rather than their IQ or instincts, are the basis of the
curriculum with this type of curriculum theory.