This article describes the seven types of curriculum and classroom implications. Upon reading this article, you will realize the complexity of the term “curriculum” as I discuss each type, along with the examples. Read on and find out the different types.
Allan Grathon (2000), as cited by Bilbao et al. (2008), describes the seven types of the curriculum in the following section.
Table of Contents
Seven Types of Curriculum
1. Recommended Curriculum
Perhaps you have asked these questions: Why should I take all these subjects and follow the course flow religiously? Why is there a need to implement the K to 12? The answer is simple! The Ministry of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, or any professional organization can recommend and implement a curriculum.
For example, in the Philippines, the curriculum being implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) or the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) is an example of a recommended curriculum. In some cases, a law-making body like the congress and the senate, or a university or a school can recommend a subject, a course, or any academic program deemed necessary for national identity and security, for environmental protection and sustainable development, among others.
2. Written Curriculum
The written curriculum refers to a lesson plan or syllabus written by teachers. Another example is the one written by curriculum experts with the help of subject teachers. This kind of written curriculum needs to be pilot tested or tried out in sample schools to determine its effectiveness.
Read more: Development and Examples of a Written Curriculum
3. Taught Curriculum
This is about the implementation of the written curriculum. Whatever is being taught or an activity being done in the classroom is a taught curriculum. So, when teachers give a lecture, initiate group work, or ask students to do a laboratory experiment with the their guidance, the taught curriculum is demonstrated. This curriculum contains different teaching and learning styles to address the students’ needs and interests.
4. Supported Curriculum
The supported curriculum is about the implementation of the written curriculum. Whatever is being taught or activity being done in the classroom is a taught curriculum. So, when teachers give a lecture, initiate group work, or ask students to do a laboratory experiment with their guidance, the taught curriculum is demonstrated. This curriculum contains different teaching styles or strategies and learning styles to address the students’ needs and interests.
5. Assessed Curriculum
When students take a quiz or the mid-term and final exams, these evaluations are the so-called assessed curriculum. Teachers may use the pencil and paper tests and authentic assessments like portfolio assessment and performance-based assessments to know if the students are progressing or not.
6. Learned Curriculum
This type of curriculum indicates what the students have learned. The capability that students should demonstrate at the end of the lesson can be measured through learning outcomes. A learning outcome can be manifested by what students can perform or do either in their cognitive, affective, or psychomotor domains. The test results can determine the learning outcome, and the students can achieve it through learning objectives.
Read More: Learning Outcomes 101: A Comprehensive Guide
7. Hidden Curriculum
The hidden curriculum refers to the unplanned or unintended curriculum but plays a vital role in learning. It consists of norms, values, and procedures. See the three-minute video below for more details.
Classroom Implications of the Different Types of Curriculum
Now, let’s discuss some classroom implications of the different curriculum types by taking the following situation as an example.
Let’s assume that you are a college student taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English. Your course or degree program is a recommended curriculum prescribed by CHED. The syllabi given to you by your teachers are the written curriculum. When your teachers start to teach, that is a taught curriculum. And when they ask you to use the internet and search for information about future-oriented topics like regenerative medicine as a very effective but noninvasive approach to better health, this is a supported curriculum.
Furthermore, teachers need to evaluate your performance. So, when you are given a test or exam, that is the assessed curriculum. The assessed curriculum results will determine what you have learned—and that is the so-called learned curriculum. However, the hidden curriculum can affect what will be taught and assessed by your teachers and eventually affect what you will learn.
To sum it up, the curriculum is not only about a course or a simple listing of subjects, but it is the total learning experience of students as indicated by the seven types of curriculum.
Recent Advances in Curriculum Development
As advances in curriculum development occur, there emerged a transformative approach to teaching and learning that has been gaining momentum in recent years—the creative curriculum. This approach paved the way for the design of a curriculum that integrates traditional academic disciplines with real-world applications, tapping into students’ inherent curiosity to foster an engaging and collaborative learning environment.
Since ChatGPT came into being in November 2022, software-based curriculum applications that use artificial intelligence emerged as the best way forward in designing an appropriate curriculum for learners of varied needs. Innovative, responsive, and up-to-date curriculum powered by the so-called curriculum engine can be designed quickly and more reliably with efficient use of digital resources.
Suggested Related Readings
An Introduction to Curriculum Engine
Creative Curriculum: Concepts and Examples
Reference
Bilbao, P. P., Lucido, P. I., Iringan, T. C., and R. B. Javier (2008). Curriculum development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
© 2015 January 7 M. G. Alvior | 3rd Revision: 5 January 2024
dr. Mary, just want to ask do you have like a list of schools that will show or act as an example of the types of curriculum they use? or is there any schools or universities that uses different type of curriculum based on the discussions you provided? your answer is highly appreciated thanks in advance.
=)
Hi, Ann. I’m so sorry but I don’t have a list of schools. However, just try to observe classrooms if they use the things I mentioned above. As far as I know, a school can use several types depending on their administrators or department chair persons. For example, in the recommended curriculum, all DEPED and SUCs (state universities & colleges) follow the curriculum recommended by CHED. You can also interview teachers as to your questions. Thanks.
Hi, Aishnes. I found it. Just click the link and read the comments there.
https://simplyeducate.me/wordpress_Y/2014/10/26/translating-the-edecolepmentalism-philosophy-into-a-universitys-vision-goals-and-program-objectives/
how do you perceive your role as a curricularist?
Hi, Aishnes. I already answer this question in one of the comments. Please check all the articles I wrote about curriculum. There is one who asked me the same question. To look for the articles, go to HOME, then on the left side corner you can see the list of topics, go to EDUCATION, click it, and click CURRICULUM. Then scroll down and you read the comments from each article. I have no time to look for that question since I’m a busy person. Another way, is to look for the table of contents. Thanks.
Why do we need to change the curriculum from time to time?
Hi, Joely Ann. We need to change it in order to keep abreast with the changes/trends. We need to be updated of what is happening in the educational system. Also, we need to address the needs of the students and the industries as well, etc.
Why must the teacher be aware and sensitive to the hidden curriculum?
Hi, Jhien! Teachers must be sensitive and aware of the hidden curriculum because they affect the teaching and learning process. Please click the link for hidden curriculum (that is colored green) on the text. Or kindly read this article of mine, https://simplyeducate.me/wordpress_Y/2014/12/01/hidden-curriculum-its-definition/ for more information.
This is a very good substance. I appreciate your research. However , where does parental involvement comes in terms of support from home.
Dear James,
Hi! parental involvement comes when they support the learning environment and needs of their children. For example, they should spend money for the education of their children. They should provide their emotional needs and others. They really have to motivate their children to study and learn. May I know your school?
I obviously have found this as interesting as it is educative. Bunch of thanks.
Hi, Aminu. You are welcome. Please tell me what is your school or university.
hi! what is the importance of stakeholders in curriculum implementation?
Hi, Dj! Please tell me your school or university. As to your question, stakeholders are important in curriculum implementation because a curriculum can’t be implemented without them. For example, who will implement the curriculum if there are no administrators and teachers. How can the school operate without the students? How can the teachers teach if there are no students? Also, if there are no parents to send their children to school, how can there be students in school? If there are no industries to provide school for them. Curriculum is societal, so all the stakeholders must be considered in its development and implementation.
Hello, Lyn. Your question is hard to answer. The written curriculum depends on your school or to you as a teacher. In most cases, get the contents and performance standards from your Ministry of Education, Commission on Higher Education or from any accrediting bodies that govern your school.
hi ! I do not know what does it mean about this question on book. What are the tools used by the school to assess the curriculum? or does it mean to assess the 7 curriculum that exists in that particular school ? Can you list down
Hi, Zachary! I think it is more on assessing the curriculum, in general. It is more on ways of determining if the lesson is learned or not. For examples, the use of quizzes, projects, portfolio, assignments, etc.
Came across the question.. Explain the by product of school curriculum.. Please, how do i go about the solution? Are the by product same as the types of curriculum?
Hi, Williams! I don’t know exactly what you meant by “by product of school curriculum”, but in my opinion is when we say “by product” it means the end, results or outcomes. So, when the learning outcomes have been achieved thru assessment (formative and summative), that is considered the by product. Likewise, it may mean the quality of students or graduates that the school has produced.
wat is planned and achieved curriculum
Hi, Shammy! Planned curriculum is what you want to do in the classroom. The examples of planned curriculum are lesson plans, course outlines, syllabus, etc. However, achieved curriculum is the one being learned by the students. You will know it once you already have the results of their quizzes, assignments, projects, and exams (formative and summative assessments).
hello I have here a question, Why must the teacher be aware and sensitive to the hidden curriculum?
Hi, Jean.
Teacher must be sensitive to the hidden curriculum because it is a key to make students learn. A curriculum that is written may look perfect but it makes no sense when the students don’t learn. In affective filter hypothesis, if the affective filter is up, no learning will take place. Affective filters are the emotional and psychological aspects that prevent students from learning like if they are hungry, afraid or have problems in life. To know the hidden curriculum and its implications to classroom teaching, please read this link, https://simplyeducate.me/wordpress_Y/2014/12/01/hidden-curriculum-its-definition/. Thanks a lot.
I had to research about the types of Curricula and the importance of knowing them. This helped me a lot. This is very understandable and clear. Thank you so much.
Hi, Kristel. You are welcome.
Hi, Elias. Yes, it is important to apply the 7 types because they are the types of curriculum that exist in school. However, it depends on your country, school administrators, or school heads if they want to apply them or not. Thanks.
hi I have found 11 types of curriculum. plz further guide me regarding these, and there are explicit and implicit curriculum also found.
Dear Sajal,
I appreciated your effort of sending me the link, but links to unsecured sites are not allowed here. I’m really happy because the purpose of this site is for professional development and academic success. This is a place where teachers and students meet to globalize higher education by sharing what we know. I agree with the ones described/defined by Dr. Leslie. There could be more kinds/types of curriculum and these are subject to interpretations. Thus, it depends on the readers what they should agree or disagree. Thank you.
Is it very imparative to apply all the type of carriclum in a school
As students why do we need to know the different types of curricula?
Hi, Kathryn.
It is important for you to know the different types of curriculum to understand the concepts and processes involved in curriculum development. It also explains why it is important to do lesson plans, assess students’ performance and monitor and implement curricular programs, etc.
To be aware of what we will be able to know.
Hi, Isabel. I’m so sorry but I don’t understand what you mean.
Thank you ☺
Welcome, Chary
Dear Sir Paul Mukama,
Thank you for bringing that up, but I’m not familiar with the ones you mentioned (implisity and explisity as major types of curriculum). I would appreciate if you could give me the link.
Regards,
Dr. Mary
Yes, I have heard of the IMPLICIT and EXPLICIT curriculum, but what Paul brings up is new to me.
Hi, Mary! Thanks for your comments. If it is implicit or explicit curriculum, maybe it is only the terminology that makes the difference. Is implicit somewhat related to the hidden curriculum or the intended curriculum? And what about the explicit? Does it refer to the achieved or implemented curriculum? Well, I can only have a definite response if there are references or links (websites) that will further explain the implicit and explicit curriculum mentioned by Sir Paul.
I think he made an error instead of explicit he typed explisity. Nevertheless explicit is just same as formal curriculum
You are right, Halumamba.
You are welcome, Wanda.
Explain the interconnectedness of the different types of curricula tht simultaneously operate in the schools
This is indeed credible.
Thank you so much. 🙂
what are the major types of curriculum? because i found some where that
curriculum can be categorized into two major types and these are
(a)implisity
(b)explisity
now what is your comment on this
Can You identify one by one the types of curriculum if it is prescribe curriculum or descriptive curriculum for me?