Definitions of Curriculum

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the concept of curriculum and provides the writer's definition of it. In so doing, the paper outlines why conceptions of curriculum which focus predominantly upon describing it as course syllabi and learning modules are inadequate in large measure because they fail to take into account the sociological and ideological aspects of the concept. The paper also discusses E.A. Todd's definition of curriculum in "Curriculum Approaches and Definitions" and argues that it is overly broad and insufficiently descriptive.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
What is Curriculum?

From the Paper:

"In closing, the preceding several pages have outlined this writer's conception of what the term "curriculum" really means. In so doing, what it is hoped has been revealed is just how enormous in scope the term really is and how merely confining one's understanding of it to course outlines, course modules and to technical competencies taught (and hopefully learned) is to really overlook many of the ideological and sociological aspects of curriculum. In the end, the concept "curriculum" is really an enormous and enormously important one."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Grundy, S. (1987). Curriculum: Product or Praxis? Lewes: Falmer Press.
• Smith, Mark. (1996, 2000). Curriculum theory and practice. Retrieved January 14, 2007 from <http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-curric.htm#praxis>
• Todd, Eugene. (n.d.). Curriculum approaches and definitions. Retrieved January 14, 2007 from <http://grove.ufl.edu/~etodd/curriculum.html>

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