Foundations of Curriculum
Foundations of Curriculum
Foundations of Curriculum
FOUNDATION OF
EDUCATION
IDEALISM (Plato)
ideas are the only true reality
what exists is in the mind only
ideas are innate
values
“dreams” and “wants”
Sample questions:
1. Teacher Jane is concerned more on conceptual matters
since reality is mental.
2. The values education student teaches faith, hope and
love and values which are believed to be the permanent
values whether they be valued by people or not.
REALISM (Aristotle)
not in the mind but in external world
ultimate reality is the world of physical world
Truth is objective - what can be observed
“fulfill” and “pursue” dreams
Sample question:
1. Student Anton pursues a degree in Education to fulfill
his dream of becoming a teacher. This action demonstrates
which philosophy?
a. progressivism c. realism
c. perennialism d. reconstructivism
EMPERICISM (John Locke)
use of senses is the source of knowledge
knowledge arises from what is provided to the
mind by the senses
snese-based experience and data
Sample question:
1. In the schools, we teach realities that cannot be
verified by the senses like an invincible god or Allah.
Whose beliefs does this practice negate?
a. Rationalist c. Skeptics
b. Empiricist d. Stoicistics
EXISTENSIALISM (Soren Kierkegard, Jean Paul
Satre)
reality is subjective
centers on individual choice and standards
man’s freedom in the accomplishment of his
destiny
existence precedes essence
Sample question:
1. “Subject matter should help students understand and
appreciate themselves as unique individuals who accept
complete responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and
actions.” from which philosophy is the thought based?
ESSENSIALISM (William Bagley)
going back to the basics
focus on 3Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic)
centers on subject matter
specialization and specialized subjects
essence precedes existence
Sample question:
1. Philippines’ Elementary Curriculum emphasizes on
the development of the skill in writing, counting and
reading. This manifest the great consideration given to
this philosophy.
PERENNIALISM (Robert Hutchins)
maintains that education involves confronting the
problems and questions that have challenged
people overtime
there is a need to study classical tradition of
great books
PERENNIALISM (Robert Hutchins)
education based on eternal truths
change does not exists; forever is real
study of humanities and generalized subjects
curriculum is fixed (LiMaLaHi)
Sample question:
1. The school principal emphasizes the importance of
the humanities in the curriculum. To which the
educational philosophy does he adhere?
PRAGMATISM (Charles Sanders Pierce)
determined by the consequence of its test: if it
works in practice, it is true or good.
believes in change as the essence of reality
experimental method
technical subjects
Sample question:
1. In recent curricular revision, the humanities are
gradually replaced by technical courses that bear
practical consequences. This shows that curricular
direction is toward_______.
UTILITARIANISM (Herbert Spencer)
industrialized society require VOCATIONAL and
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION based on
scientific and practical objectives
greater good for the greater number
usefulness
Sample question:
1. Why is Spencer’s educational thought described as
Utilitarianism?
a. He emphasized vocational and professional
education based on scientific and practical objectives
PROGRESSIVISM (John Dewey)
education should focus on the whole child
learner is a problem solver who makes meaning
through experience
a learner learns well through active interplay with
others
PROGRESSIVISM (John Dewey)
learning by doing principle
involves participation of students and allows them
to exercise freedom and moral powers
Methods: Scientific Method and Problem Solving
Sample question:
1. Teacher Marie, unlike other teacher in school, practices the
non-traditional method of discussing the lessons using not only
the book prescribed by the school as the main source of
information and knowledge. Instead, she went out her way to
devise other means that will help her students to understand better
their lessons. To what philosophy does Teacher Marie submit to?
BEHAVIORISM (John Watson)
best explained in terms of responses to external
stimuli
modifying or changing student behaviors in
socially acceptable manner through the
arrangements of conditions of learning
BEHAVIORISM (John Watson)
Human beings are shaped entirely by environment
(forced)
rewards and reinforcements
Sample question:
1. Giving of rewards and reinforcements are the
primary technique of this philosophical point of
view.
a. existentialism c. perennialism
b. behaviorism d. progressivism
RECONSTRUCTIVISM (George Counts & Harold
Rugg
)
Students are encouraged to become involved in the
problems whether political, social, oreconomical
that confronts the society
Declares that the chief purpose of all educational
efforts is to “reconstruct” society
Teacher Ana always asks her students to memorize
and recite poems and speeches they have studied in
her literature class. What kind of teacher is she?
a. idealist c. pragmatist
b. progressivist d. existentialist
▶ Philosophy provides educators, teachers
and curriculum makers with framework for
planning, implementing and evaluating
curriculum in schools. It helps in answering
what schools are for, what subjects are
important, how students should learn and
what materials and methods should
used. In decision be making,
philosophy
provides the starting point and will be used
for the succeeding decision making.
▶ The philosophy of a curriculum planner,
implementer or evaluator reflects his or
her life experiences, common beliefs,
social and economic background and
education.
yler’s View of Philosophy in
elation to School Purposes Suggestions
from
Subject
Specialist
Studies of
Studies of Contempor
Learners ary Life
School
Purposes
Use of
Use of
Psychology
Philosophy
of Learning
Historical Foundations of
Curriculum
Curriculum Theorists
▶ Franklin Bobbit (1876-1956)
– presented curriculum as a
science that emphasizes on
students’ need. Curriculum
prepares for adult life.
Social
Constructivism
• Lev Vygotsky
Multiple
Intelligences
• Howard Gardner
Emotional
Intelligences
• Daniel Goleman