This article explains the four major foundations of curriculum and their importance in education. Examples are provided to stress the importance of curriculum in the academe.
Read on and reflect on some experiences you have had in school. Match it with how philosophy, history, psychology, and sociology influence those experiences of yours.
Table of Contents
The Influence of Philosophy to Curriculum
Educators, curriculum makers, and teachers must have espoused a philosophy or philosophies deemed necessary for planning, implementing, and evaluating a school curriculum. The philosophy they have embraced will help them achieve the following:
- define the school’s purpose,
- identify the essential subjects to be taught,
- design the learning students must have,
- develop approaches or methodologies on how students can gain the knowledge, skills, and attitude,
- produce the instructional materials,
- identify the methods and strategies to be used, and
- determine how teachers will evaluate students.
Likewise, philosophy offers solutions to problems by helping the administrators, curriculum planners, and teachers make sound decisions. A person’s philosophy reflects his/her life experiences, social and economic background, shared beliefs, and education.
When John Dewey proposed that “education is a way of life,” his philosophy is realized when put into practice. Now, particularly in the Philippines, Dewey’s philosophy served as an anchor for the country’s educational system.
History and Its Influence to Curriculum
The history of one’s country can affect its educational system and the curriculum. If we trace the curriculum’s formal beginning, we get back in time to Franklin Bobbit’s book entitled “The Curriculum,” published in 1918.
From Bobbit’s time to Tyler, many developments in the purposes, principles, and contents of the curriculum took place. Please read the Six Famous Curriculum Theorists and their Contributions to Education for more information.
The Influence of Psychology to Curriculum: Four Major Foundations
The curriculum is influenced by psychology. Psychology provides information about the teaching and learning process. It also seeks answers how a curriculum will be organized to achieve students’ learning at the optimum level and what amount of information they can absorb in learning the various contents of the curriculum.
The following are some psychological theories in learning that served as major foundations of curriculum development:
1. Behaviorism
Education in the 20th century was dominated by behaviorism. The mastery of the subject is given more emphasis. So, learning is organized in a step-by-step process. Using drills and repetition are common.
For this reason, many educational psychologists viewed it as mechanical and routine. Though many are skeptical about this theory, we can’t deny the influences it had on our educational system.
2. Cognitivism
Cognitive theorists focus on how individuals process information, monitor and manage their thinking. The basic questions cognitive psychologists zero in on are:
- How do learners process and store information?
- How do they retrieve data and generate conclusions?
- How much information can they absorb?
With their beliefs, they promote the development of problem-solving and thinking skills and popularize reflective thinking, creative thinking, intuitive thinking, discovery learning, and others.
3. Humanism
Humanism is taken from Gestalt’s theory, Abraham Maslow’s theory, and Carl Rogers’ theory. This group of psychologists is concerned with the development of human potential.
In this theory, the curriculum is after the process, not the product; focuses on personal needs, not on the subject; and clarifying psychological meanings and environmental situations. In short, curriculum views founded on humanism posit that learners are human beings who are affected by their biology, culture, and environment. They are neither machines nor animals.
Along this line, curriculum developers must craft a more advanced, more comprehensive curriculum that promotes human potential. Teachers educate not only the minds, but the hearts as well.
4. Sociology and Curriculum
Among the major foundations of curriculum development, the sociological theory emphasizes the influence of society on education. It is founded on the belief that there is a mutual and encompassing relationship between society and curriculum because it exists within the societal context. Though schools are formal institutions that educate the people, other units of society educate or influence the way people think, such as families and friends, and communities.
Since society is dynamic, many developments are difficult to cope with and adjust to. But the schools are made to address and understand the changes not only in one’s country but in the world as well.
Therefore, schools must be relevant by making their curriculum more innovative and interdisciplinary. A curriculum that can address global learners’ diversities, the explosion of knowledge through the internet, and the educational reforms and policies recommended or mandated by the United Nations.
However, it is also imperative that a country must have maintained a curriculum that reflects and preserves its culture and aspirations for national identity. No matter how far people go, it is the country’s responsibility to ensure that the school serves its purpose of educating the citizenry.
Now, it is your time to reflect. Can you think of your experiences in which the major foundation of the curriculum can explain it?
Try to ask yourself the following questions:
- Why should I take history, philosophy, psychology or even PE subjects in college?
- Why is it that the Department of Education is implementing K to 12 and the mother tongue-based curriculum?
- Why is there institutional amalgamation?
- Why is there “One UP” (One University of the Philippines) now in the Philippines?
- Why is there a need for a globalized higher education?
These questions imply that change will take place soon. So, brace yourself for the many changes that will take place in education!
Reference
Bilbao, P. P., Lucido, P. I., Iringan, T. C., and R. B. Javier (2008). Curriculum development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
© 2015 January 9 M. G. Alvior | Updated: 6 December 2020
Hi doc. Pls can u explain what curriculum and education in the environment is about? Thanks
Hi, Lucy. Your question is vague or not specific. It is hard to answer and it must be very long if I answer it.
Hi what are the implications of psychological and social foundation of secondary education curriculum
Hi, Haggai. I’m so sorry but your question is too broad. You better answer it by yourself.
Hi Maam Alvior, i can’t access your article about Seven School Curriculum Types it says “Parse error: syntax error,”.
Hi, Mhel. Thank you for the feedback. Yeah, you are right. So, I told the admin and he said that you simply refresh it or go directly to the site and look for “search icon” at the right corner above. Then type the complete title of the article and press enter. If you can’t find it, please do it manually by going to the bar on the left side. Click education, then Curriculum and instruction then scroll down and look for the article and then click the title. It is a long process but be patient. Thanks so much,
Can I ask if there anything common that binds the philosophical, sociological, psychological, historical ang legal bases of the curriculum.?
Hi, Celjan16. I think I already answered this question in one of my articles.
Hi. Can I ask you what are the common features of the different bases or foundations od curriculum?
Hi, Kaye. I’m so sorry because I can’t answer it. I think I must write a book about it.
I’ve been reading all the comments and I must say it’s been a great enlightenment. Thank you Mary and all who also commented. My question is, is there a difference in Curriculum development and Curriculum content. And if there is a difference, what are the psychological factors that underpin curriculum content?
Dear Edward, Curriculum content refers to topics or subjects to be studied while the curriculum development is a process on how to develop the curriculum particularly the contents (topics or subject matters). As to your last question, that is too long to answer. Perhaps, I will write a book about it.
hi ma’am. can i ask a question?
How can we possibly address the problem of continuously deteriorating phil. education using psychological, sociological and philosophical theories and principles?
you will be of great help to me mam in answering this.. thanks much and god bless
Hi, Cel. Pease read the article and from there you can reflect and answer the question. But here is my answer:
1. philosophy – use your concept of philosophy, particularly in social reconstructionism to change the way people think and how to help others.
2. psychology – use psychological theories that can help students how to learn more or how to increase their academic performance.
3. sociology – use this in solving societal problems that are detrimental to our education.
if you use these three principles and theories, the educational system will be uplifted.
Maam do you teach in Palawan Stat University, College of Arts and Humanities?
Hello, Rhizza. Yes, I used to be the Asst. Prof. 2 and the Director of the Curriculum & Instructional Materials Development Office. I was in the College of Arts & Humanities from 1995 to 1999, if I am not mistaken.
When i become teacher,what will i do to make sure that i will be able to effectively implemet the curriculum at the classroom level???
Thank you
Hi, again. Make it sure that you monitor and evaluate it. Be reflective.
Hi can i ask a question?is there anything common that binds the philosophical ,sociological?psychological bases of the curriculum?
Hi, Yuni. Yes and that is the purpose of the school. If the purpose or existence of the school is clear to the stakeholders, then they know what should be the subject matters/topics for each foundation.
Thank you so much for a brief explanation about foundations of curriculum, it helps me a lot on my fs 4 workbook…God Bless…
You are welcome, Joy Ruth.
hi maam how would you evolve phylosophy based on the existing philosophies in education. Can you illustrate it in a graphic organizer and explain how it will applied if you are going to put up your own school?
Hi, Seth. I think you should read all my articles in this site. Many of my readers have the same question. Just read the comments and the answers at the end of the article.
Realy It Is funtastic!
Thanks so much, Mohammed.
Welcome, Mohammed.
maam, can you help me?
what are the best features of curriculum design models?
Hi, Elvera. I wish I have time to write an article about the curriculum design models. I’m getting sick lately and I have so many work to do so.
please help me..
please show me the example of curriculum design that reflects your own philosipy ..
thank you
God Bless You Dr.
Hi, Lechell. I think I already answered this question. Please read all my articles in this site and the comments I had given. Look for the EDUCATION corner at the left side of this site.
I enjoy your contributions to support the establishment of sound foundations for educators, teachers, administrators etc. I am also interested in education and working in the fields of education. Wish you continuing success!
Thanks for your kind words, Thura. God bless.
Dr Mary i have lack of words for important contrbution from the above essistal article . i wish for you a long life forever. God bless !!!!!
Thank you so much, Ayalew Molla. Please pray for me because I’m getting sick lately.
Hi, can i ask if how important that four Major foundations of curriculum in education, or in the curriculum development process?
we’ve been discussing that in our class during our PEC course i still don’t get the point. and we will be having an activity, we will make a graphic organizers for that four major foundations..can u give me some ideas?
i am hoping you can answer or give me an insights bout my question.
Hi, Jaybee. I think I already answered this kind of questions earlier. Please explore this site regarding education/ curriculum. Read my articles one by one and the comments.
Good day!! Can you please help me provide an output about the Technological Foundations of Education?
It would be highly appreciate if you could give me also references or links/ website. Thank you so much!! and God bless!
Hi, GTS. I’m so sorry but I don’t have.
Sarongoh:
Psychology study human as independent entity, how he perceive information, how he transform from unknown to known, how he develop from neonite to adulhood, how a child acquire skills knowledge, ideas, values, norms etc. Psychology study how human develop cognitively; Piaget theory, attitudinally, emotionally, socially,etc. with that in mind we can say that Psychology serves as one of the curriculum foundations since what is to be planned in curriculum must reflect the needs, aspirations, age and maturation, abilities and characteristics of the learners. so without psychology learner will not be adequately known. then if such happened then curriculum will not be suitable to the learner, and at the end educational objectives can not be achieved.
I hope my scanty answer will help.
Thank you.
Ubaida Adamu, Education/Biology Undergraduate student from Gombe State University Nigeria.
Dear Ubaida, Thanks so much for helping me answer the questions. I really appreciate it.
Good after noon kindly explain how those foundation reflect the development of foundation in the 21st century classroom
Then,describe the different foundation of curriculum