Curriculum Manual 25

SPIRAL LEARNING
AN EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
How we might view the structure of our total programme of Theological Education.
AN EXAMPLE

Thirty Courses
< Degree Level
CHURCH LEADERSHIP (Conceptual,
Arguing a Case)
Twenty Courses

LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY

< Diploma Level
Ten Courses (Comprehension,
Biblical Studies)
Family Life
DISCIPLESHIP
Church Life
< Certificate Level
Society (Emphasis on:
Facts & Examples)

Three areas of “relationship” - Note: All four learning domains –

FAMILY LIFE, CHURCH LIFE and
SOCIETY – form the core of each
course in the above curriculum, which
is constructed on three levels. These
themes are expanded as the level of
study rises each time they return round
the spiral. Thus SPIRAL LEARNING
builds on what has been previously
learnt about any given subject.
Degree cognitive (knowing), sapiential
(understanding), functional (doing) and
F.L. Ch.L. S. affective (being) – must be advanced
Diploma together. There is always a danger that
knowledge and understanding will
Certificate advance at the expense of skills and
personal development and that knowledge
SPIRAL
LEARNING and skills will squeeze out understanding
and personal development.

DISCUSSION
Curriculum Manual 25

What are the advantages of applying the principle of Spiral Learning to curriculum
planning? What constraints might it also put upon curriculum construction?