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
and the roles of teachers and other curriculum workers in ensuring the success of the implemented curriculum
Teachers are the implementors and they must be trained and monitored to ensure that the prescribed curriculum are followed.
please help me.
what are the benefits of having an official curriculum prescribed to all school?
Hi, KIm. One of the benefits is that you can ensure that the standards or requirements for that course/program/subject are followed. Next, it is easier to prepare. It is like one size fits all. One main syllabus, textbook can be used and assessment tools are the same . It is also easy to manage and evaluate.
Good day Dr. Mary, your article enlightened me so much on the types of the curriculum. I have grey spots on understanding this on our masteral class and this page helped me in comprehending it well. I have a question though, in the Philippine setting and in the midst of various issues teachers encounter on implementing the curriculum, what are your suggestions on minimizing and or eliminating/ bridging the gap between the taught and the learned curriculum?
Thank You for taking time and best regards.
Hi, Quinn. My suggestions are the following: (1) formulate objectives that are smart or formulate learning outcomes; (2) the delivery and management of curriculum; and (3) the time spent in teaching. If the curriculum is congested or the time spent is too much for the students to absorb the lessons, then there is no meaningful learning on the part of the students. It is useless to teach more time if the students’ affective filters are high. Thus, there is a gap between the taught and the learned curriculum.
hi maam may you help me this QN thus ” what is actual or ongoing or implemented curriculum”
Hi, Sophie. The actual, ongoing or implemented curricula are the so-called “real”, which means that they are the ones being implemented in the classroom. The planned curriculum in a form of lesson plan is only planned and therefore can be altered depending on the students’ needs during the actual delivery of the lesson.
Thanks so much, Gabriel.
can you help me Dr. l have an asignment on curriculum studies.The difference between planned curriculum and actual curriculum and give possible reasons for there disparities
Hi, again Tafadzwa. The reason for the disparity is that when you do the actual teaching, sometimes you can’t implement all the parts of your lesson plans (planned or intended curriculum) due to the influence of the hidden curriculum.
what is the different between planned curriculum and actual curriculam.
Hi, Tafadzwa. Planned is the intended curriculum while the actual is the implemented.
Dear Dr Mary
I am PGCE student and we where given an assignment on “USING PRACTICAL EXAMPLES TO DIFFERENTIATE THE TYPES OF CURRICULUM AS APPLICABLE IN THE MICRO, MESO AND MACRO LEVELS IN SA”. Please simplify this question for me or rather what examples would you consider in answering the question?
Hello, Lorraine. PGCE means a Post Graduate Certificate Education, right? And what do you mean by SA? Saudi Arabia or South Africa? I can’t give you the exact answers because the acronyms are not clear to me.
As to the definition, perhaps this can help you, https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/minnowbrook/about/analytic-frameworks-for-micro-meso-and-macro-level-public-administration/ and from there, you can provide your own examples since you are more familiar with your place.
Can there be difference in learned and assessed curriculum?
Hi, Eraj. Yes, there is. Learned curriculum is the actual lesson/knowledge learned by the students while assessed curriculum is more on the assessment process to determine if the students learned.
can you help me Dr. l have an asignment on curriculum studies.The difference between planned curriculum and actual curriculum and give possible reasons for there disparities
Hello po…
I just want to ask question that came in my mind and its really bothering… what does it mean___ What, Why and how to Evaluate a Curriculum?
Plsss… I need answer..
Hi, James. Your question needs a long answer and I can’t answer it here. Perhaps, I have to write an article about it if I have time. I’m so sorry.
why do i need to know the different types of curricula ?
Hi, Butchoi. You have to know them in order for you to be familiar of the importance of each.
but these types of cureiculum are confusing me coz i want the definition of prescribed,formal and imformal curriculums….and yet i couldnt see them….
Hi, Wisdom62. Please read this, https://www.coe.int/en/web/lang-migrants/formal-non-formal-and-informal-learning. For prescribed curriculum it is the formal type. Sorry for a delayed reply.
Hi Dr.may
i am studding Master of Art in Nursing , i face to A question which is , What is the type of Curriculum used in Nursing Course CHED 2009 series 14 ? Dr.Mary i am overseas student i fined more of What i need in your page thank you so much the more you make my feel positive ,,
Have A nice day & Night Ma’am ..
Hello, Layan. How are you? I’m so sorry for a delayed reply. The curriculum issued by CHED is an example of a recommended curriculum. So, the curriculum in Nursing Course issued by CHED 2009 series 14 is a recommended curriculum.
Hello
it gave me a problem of categorizing if it is a formal ,informal, non-formal or emerging types of curriculum.
Am not familiar with the one above.
Hello, Koech. Thanks for helping me answer the question of Cellina Sanga. As to your question about formal, informal and non-formal, please read this, https://www.coe.int/en/web/lang-migrants/formal-non-formal-and-informal-learning
Thanks.
hi! why the following regarded as the part of hidden curriculum
a/the choice of the subject by the pupils
b/the cleanlines of the school compound
c/the design of the school time table
Hi Sanga.
according to my view and research it’s called hidden because they are things a student learns while at the school without being aware. Also termed as unconditional learning. Attitudes, skills, habits are among hidden values copied by learners from teachers, peers or elders. It is non academic but educational significant outcome of learning.
Hi, Cellina Sanga. Koech Kipronoh Solomon is right. Please read the reply.
Hello ma’am why must teacher be aware and sensitive to the hidden curriculum?
Please read this Ruel, https://simplyeducate.me/wordpress_Y/2014/12/01/hidden-curriculum-its-definition/
Thanks.
good evening maam…
why do i need to know the different types of curriculum????
Hi, Jay. I think I already answered it, please look at the thread or to my other articles.
thank you so much maam. This help me alot in making may assignment in school. Thank you so much for aloting your time sharing your wisdom to others. May the lord GOD bless you and guide you alway. 🙂
You are welcome, Ma. Leslie.
Can you please highlight the meaning of intended curriculum for me? Your responses are highly appreciated.Thanks
Intended curriculum is what you planned, Tsekpo.
This is an amazing site for we students. God bless you so much for the good works. More grease to your elbow.
Thanks so much, Tsekpo.