1.2 Historical Perspectives on Curriculum Development

Curriculum development has evolved from ancient civilizations' informal education to today's complex models. It's shaped by historical events, societal changes, and influential thinkers. The journey reflects our changing understanding of how people learn and what knowledge is most valuable.

Key approaches like the Tyler Rationale and Taba Model guide modern curriculum design. These frameworks consider objectives, content, learning experiences, and evaluation. They're influenced by social, political, and economic factors, as well as educational theorists who've shaped our understanding of learning and teaching.

Historical Foundations of Curriculum Development

Evolution of curriculum development

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• Ancient civilizations developed informal education focused on practical skills (agriculture, craftsmanship) and cultural traditions passed down through apprenticeships, oral storytelling (myths, legends), and religious teachings
• Classical period in Greece and Rome emphasized liberal arts education for the elite, including the Trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and Quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, astronomy)
• Middle Ages saw the rise of monastic schools and cathedral schools, focusing on religious education and the seven liberal arts
• Renaissance and Reformation brought humanist education emphasizing classical languages (Latin, Greek), literature, and history, along with the rise of vernacular languages and the printing press
• Enlightenment era placed emphasis on reason, science, and individual rights, with philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau influencing education
• 19th century Industrial Revolution led to the need for mass education and the rise of public schooling and compulsory education
• 20th century saw the progressive education movement led by John Dewey, emphasizing child-centered learning and experiential education, as well as the emergence of various curriculum development models (Tyler Rationale, Taba Model) and approaches

Approaches to curriculum development

• Tyler Rationale (1949) is a linear, objectives-driven approach that addresses four fundamental questions:
  1. What educational purposes should the school seek to attain? (objectives)
  2. What educational experiences can be provided to attain these purposes? (learning experiences)
  3. How can these educational experiences be effectively organized? (organization)
  4. How can we determine whether these purposes are being attained? (evaluation) Emphasizes measurable outcomes and behavioral objectives
• Taba Model (1962) is an iterative and inductive approach that follows a seven-step process:
  1. Diagnosis of needs
  2. Formulation of objectives
  3. Selection of content
  4. Organization of content
  5. Selection of learning experiences
  6. Organization of learning experiences
  7. Evaluation Places greater emphasis on teacher involvement and the social context of learning
• Similarities between the two models include the importance of objectives and evaluation, as well as the need for organizing content and learning experiences
• Differences lie in the Tyler Rationale being more linear and prescriptive, while the Taba Model is iterative and flexible, with a greater emphasis on teacher involvement and the social context of learning

Contextual Influences on Curriculum Development

Factors influencing curriculum development

• Social factors, such as changing demographics and cultural diversity (immigration, globalization), shifts in societal values and norms (gender roles, environmental awareness), and the emergence of new social movements and ideologies (civil rights, feminism) shape curriculum priorities and content
• Political factors, including government policies and legislation related to education (No Child Left Behind Act), political ideologies (conservatism, liberalism), and international relations and global events (Cold War, 9/11) impact educational priorities and funding
• Economic factors, such as industrialization and the changing needs of the workforce (technological advancements, automation), globalization and the demand for 21st-century skills (critical thinking, collaboration), and funding for education and resource allocation (budget cuts, private investments) influence curriculum design and implementation
• Examples of how these factors have influenced curriculum development:
  • The Civil Rights Movement led to a greater emphasis on multicultural education and diversity in curriculum
  • The Space Race in the 1960s prompted a focus on science and mathematics education to compete with the Soviet Union
  • The No Child Left Behind Act (2001) in the United States emphasized standardized testing and accountability measures, leading to a narrowing of curriculum

Impact of theorists on curriculum design

• John Dewey (1859-1952) led the progressive education movement, emphasizing experiential learning, problem-solving, and democratic values, influencing project-based learning and student-centered approaches
• Jean Piaget (1896-1980) developed the cognitive development theory, identifying four stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational), influencing developmentally appropriate curriculum and constructivist learning theories
• Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) proposed the sociocultural theory of cognitive development, introducing the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and the role of scaffolding, influencing collaborative learning and the importance of social interaction in learning
• Jerome Bruner (1915-2016) advocated for discovery learning and the spiral curriculum, emphasizing the structure of knowledge and the importance of active learning, influencing inquiry-based learning and the organization of curriculum around key concepts and themes