Curriculum is a central pillar of education, shaping the way students learn, teachers teach, and institutions function. But what exactly does it mean? The word itself has a fascinating history, and its definition has evolved over time to encompass much more than just a set of textbooks or lessons.
More than a simple collection of subjects, it represents the strategic blueprint guiding the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for navigating an increasingly complex and technologically driven world.
A curriculum is an inventory of activities related to the design, organization and planning of an education or training action. It defines learning objectives, content, methods, assessment and material, as well as arrangements for training teachers and trainers.
This comprehensive guide explores what curriculum means, the different types, how it's developed, and why it matters for educational success. From the subjects taught in kindergarten to advanced college courses, curriculum provides the roadmap for educational journeys.
The term curriculum refers to the lessons and academic content taught in a school or in a specific course or program. In dictionaries, curriculum is often defined as the courses offered by a school, but it is rarely used in such a general sense in schools.
Curriculum is the complete educational plan—objectives, subjects, teaching methods, activities, and assessments. Syllabus is a subset of the curriculum, focusing only on the list of topics and chapters to be studied in a subject.
What is Curriculum in Education? Basically the curriculum is referred to as a structured set of learning experiences or activities that guides the education process in an academic year in schools, colleges and other institutions.
Kerr defines curriculum as "all the learning which is planned and guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or individually, inside or outside of school." [4]
A simple definition of curriculum would be the subjects and the course of study in a school or college. Curriculum and instruction is an entire sub-field of education. Definitions of curriculum vary.
“Curriculum is all the learning which is planned and guided by the school, whether it is carried on in groups or individually, inside or outside the school.” From these definitions, it is clear that curriculum is both planned and dynamic, involving formal and informal learning experiences.
