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 four 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.
Now, I summarize these four major theories of learning that served as foundations of curriculum development in one matrix below comparing the focus, key idea, how learning occurs, the role of teacher and the role of learner.
| Theory | Focus | Key Idea | How Learning Occurs | Role of Teacher | Role of Learner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behaviorism (Pavlov, Skinner, Watson) | Observable behavior | Conditioning through stimulus and response | Reinforcement and punishment shape behavior | Trainer, provider of reinforcement and feedback | Reactor to external stimuli |
| Cognitivism (Piaget, Bruner, Ausubel) | Mental processes | Mind works like a computer; schema building | Information processing, organization, memory use | Organizer, explainer, scaffold of knowledge | Active processor of information |
| Humanism (Maslow, Rogers) | Personal growth and emotions | Learning is self-directed and student-centered | Motivation, self-actualization, and choice drive learning | Facilitator, guide, supportive mentor | Self-motivated, responsible for own learning |
| Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky) | Social interaction and culture | Learning occurs in social context | Collaboration, language, Zone of Proximal Development | Scaffolder, encourages collaboration | Co-creator of knowledge within a community |
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!
Related Post
This article presents 10 of the major theories of education including a description of the theory with diagrams and contributions to the development of education as we know today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why is philosophy important in curriculum development?
Philosophy provides the foundation for curriculum planning, implementation, and evaluation. It helps define the school’s purpose, choose subjects, design learning activities, and guide teaching methods. Without philosophy, curriculum decisions would lack direction and coherence.
2. How does philosophy influence what subjects are taught?
The philosophy embraced by a school determines which knowledge and skills are considered essential. For example, a progressivist philosophy influenced by John Dewey emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and real-life learning experiences.
3. What is the relationship between history and curriculum?
History shapes curriculum by showing how educational purposes and content evolved over time. For instance, Franklin Bobbit’s The Curriculum (1918) and Ralph Tyler’s principles influenced how schools structured learning objectives, content, and assessments.
4. How does psychology affect curriculum design?
Psychology explains how students learn, which guides curriculum structure and teaching strategies. Behaviorism emphasizes drills and reinforcement, Cognitivism stresses information processing, Humanism highlights personal growth, and Sociocultural theory values social interaction and collaboration.
5. What role does sociology play in curriculum development?
Sociology examines the relationship between society and education. A curriculum must respond to cultural values, community needs, and social changes. It ensures that schools prepare students not just for personal success but also for active participation in society.
6. Who are the major theorists behind the foundations of curriculum?
Key contributors include John Dewey (philosophy and progressivism), Franklin Bobbit and Ralph Tyler (history of curriculum), Pavlov, Skinner, and Watson (behaviorism), Piaget, Bruner, and Ausubel (cognitivism), Maslow and Rogers (humanism), and Vygotsky (sociocultural theory).
7. How is the Philippine curriculum influenced by these foundations?
The Philippine K to 12 program and mother tongue-based curriculum are influenced by philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Dewey’s progressivism guided experiential learning, while sociocultural principles shaped community-based and culturally responsive education policies.
8. Why must the curriculum be continuously updated?
Society and knowledge are dynamic. The internet, globalization, and United Nations educational reforms require schools to make their curriculum innovative, interdisciplinary, and globally competitive, while still preserving national identity and culture.
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: 26 August 2025
Hi
Can you please help me with the foundations of education an their componentsn
Hello, Matilde. I’m so sorry but I don’t understand your question.
Hi, Zelalem. You may check this book, https://simplyeducate.me/curriculum-development-overview/ Thanks and God bless your studies.
Francis, I’m sorry but the curriculum development in Kenya is not within my range of expertise.
Victor Chimbamu, I’m so sorry but I have no time to answer your question.
hello maam kindly answer my question
Winnie, the influence of child psychology/psycho-social theory to curriculum development is so huge that I didn’t have time to write.
How are education stakeholders(teachers, learner,private sector,civil society) involved developing the curriculum policies?
is there evidence of thier involment having made a difference?
Hello Sir George. Please extend my regards to Arusha, Tanzania. Thanks a lot.
Abdur Raheem, you are welcome.
Christine, please read the thread of the comments. Thanks.
Hi Mam Mary, kindly answer my question articulate your understanding of the sociological and psychological foundations of education that is grounded in the knowledge gained from class readings and discussions. Thank you very much Mam and More Power
Hello, Jane. Sorry for a late reply but the questions can be answered by yourself. Please read and understand the article and the comments and try to relate them in your experience or classroom situation.
Good Eve Mam i’d like to as why it is important to know the sociological and psychological foundation of education? how does each component [rovide importance?
plz. reply ma’am mary. i need the answer now.
Hello, Arvin. Sorry for a much delayed reply. If you read the article above and the comments, I’m sure you were able to answer. But the values and beliefs about the nature of learning is off-topic. It is not covered in my article.
hi ma’am mary, gud morning hope you will read this message for so that i will be able to understand more about this matter. i have something to ask and clarify.
state the values and beliefs about the nature of learning?
how History and society influenced curriculum?
can you give me some idea about this matter.reply asap.
arvin ceblano.
mam pragmatism ki philosphy meri smj mei ne i plz tell me
Hello, Mano. I’m so sorry but I don’t understand you.
gud ni8 mam ap reply ne kr ri mai kb sy w8 kr re hu.apka articl very intrsting ha wesy
Hello, Chmaato. Where are you from? i don’t understand what are you telling me. I’m a Filipina.
madm where u live plz help me kl meri presentation ha
I’m a Filipina but I currently work in Thailand. Please speak in English. Thanks.
mam ap jldi reply nhi krti
Hello, Ayesha. Where are you from? i don’t understand you.
plz mam tell me how can i explain phychological foundation in class;because my presentation is very near.can u help me plz?
hi mam, your article is really interesting …one of our class requirements to construct an english curriculum in primary grade.i don’t have ideas on how to do that…
Hi, Fau. Please be guided accordingly by what you read and what you learned from your professors. Your professor can help you. God bless.
What is psychologization? Is happening in the philippine context? how extensive is its permeation now into the educational system?
Hi, Regie. I’m so sorry because I’m not familiar with the issues you raised. Thanks.
Hi Mary!Please help me to explain the sociological and cultural foundation of curriculum.Can you please cite me an example how does it influence in school or what are the possible changes if we know about this curriculum.
Hi, Cherry. Please read the article and my answers to the comments. The question must be personally answered by yourself.