Component 2 of the
Components of Curriculum and Curricular Approaches:
Curriculum Content or Subject Matter
“Knowledge is a model we construct to give meaning and structure to regularities in experience” –
Gerome Bruner
What could be the most and very crucial stage in developing a curriculum? It could be no other else than selecting the content of it. This significantly defines the subject matter that will be taught in the different subject areas in order to achieve the objectives. Fortunately, there are some criteria that should be used in selecting the content. But before we move on, one thing is for sure,
Let
us not neglect the little things.
In
selecting the subject matter content or knowledge for designing a curriculum,
here are some criteria:
*
Self-sufficiency – it is helping the learners to attain the utmost independency
in learning yet in an inexpensive way is the most important guiding principle
in selecting the content according to Scheffler. This means, more of the
results and effective learning outcomes though a lesser amount of the teacher’s
effort and so with the learner’s effort.
*
Significance – It is significant if fundamental ideas, concepts, principles and
generalization are supplied in the subject matter to achieve the overall aim of
the curriculum.
*
Validity – the genuineness of a content selected is by its legality. The
subject matter to be selected has to be legal to avoid selecting the obsolete
ones.
*
Interest – the learner’s interest is a major factor in selecting the content.
*
Utility - deciding on subject matter, its usefulness is considered to be
essential.
*
Learnability – if there is a quotation to “live within our means” then there is
also the consideration of “teaching within the means of the learners.”
*
Feasibility – content selection takes into thought the possibility, the
practicability and the achievability of the subject matter in terms of the
availability of the resources, proficiency of the teachers, and the personality
of learners especially within the framework of the society and the government.
