Subject-centered Curriculum

Revolves around a particular subject matter or discipline- Focus on the subject rather than the individual. Emphasis is
placed on acquisition, memorization and knowledge of each specific content area.
Describes what needs to be studied and how it should be studied. Teachers are provided a pre-determined list of things that
they need to teach their students, along with specific examples of how these things should be taught. In colleges teachers
focus on a particular subject or discipline.
Used for courses like Maths, Biology, etc. The curriculum is designed as per the subject being taught. Each topic in the
subject is taught as per the examples. This design model doesn’t consider the capabilities of the students taking up the
course and hence may not be suitable for all. Focusing on certain processes, strategies, or life-skills, such as problem
solving,decision making, or teamwork.
Merits
It Makes a Subject more Comprehensible. It improves memory since it allows learners to place detail into a structural
pattern. An understanding of fundamental principles & ideas facilitates a transfer of training to similar principles.
Demerits
Not student-centered. Constructed without taking into account the specific learning styles of the students. Less students’
engagement and motivation.
Learner-centred Curriculum
Child is the center of the educational process. The curriculum should be build upon his interest, abilities, purposes and
needs.
Around the needs of students. Takes each individual's needs, interests, and goals into consideration. In other words, it
acknowledges that students are not uniform and adjust to those student needs. Empower learners and allow them to shape
their education through choices.
Child-Centered Curriculum means children take command of their own learning. Teachers are there to provide support and
facilitate the child’s learning but children determine the direction of their own learning following their natural curiosities,
interests and passions. Instructional plans in a learner-centered curriculum are differentiated, giving students the
opportunity to choose assignments, learning experiences or activities. This can motivate students and help them stay
engaged in the material that they are learning.
This design aims to customize the curriculum as per the needs of the student. Its core philosophy is that each student is
unique and there is no standard curriculum which can fit all of them. Differentiated instruction plans can be prepared to suit
each student as per their requirement. But since there is a constraint of time and also to figure out what each student needs
uniquely this method also has its disadvantages.
1. Students develop learning and other skills and gain meaningful knowledge that will help them throughout life.
2. It can help to build social skills and self-esteem. 3. And also students gain more emotional and cognitive
support from their peers. 4. The relationship between rights and responsibilities islearned. 5. Students discover
that learning is interesting and fun. 6. Teachers have less traditional work to do. 7. Students are more attentive
and willing to participate in the class. 8. Complaints about irrelevance and unfairness decrease. 9. Reports and
papers generated by students increase a teacher's collection of useful information. 10. The pupil has more of an
active role to play in their learning. 11. Students can adapt the way they learn, to make their studies more
effective. 12. The ideal situation for this type group work is that weaker students should be placed with more
able students to act as scaffolding. 13. Students work on projects or problems in teams with both personal and
team accountability for conceptual understanding. 14. Students work together in achieving goals by upholding
the norms of the group. 15. Students are actively helping and motivating spirit to succeed together. 16. Active
role as peer tutors to further enhance the group’s success. 17. Interaction between students with increasing their
ability to argue. In addition to these advantages of cooperative learning also have shortcomings, according to
Dees including the following: Disadvantage 1. It requires a longer time for students so it is difficult to achieve
curriculum targets. 2. Take a long time for teachers so that teachers in general do not want to use cooperative
learning. 3. It requires special skills of teachers so that not all teachers can do or use of cooperative learning. 4.
Specific nature of student demands, such as the nature likes to work together. Labor-intensive. Developing
differentiated instruction puts pressure on the teacher to find materials that are conducive to each student's learning needs.
Teachers may not have the time or may lack the experience or skills to create such a plan. Requires that teachers balance
student wants and interests with student needs and required outcomes.
Society centred curriculum
The Society Centered Curriculum emphasizes teaching students skills to help them become confident, ambitious leaders in
society who can work collaboratively with others to reach a common goal.
The Society Centered curriculum focuses on practical and lifelong skills and creates a well-rounded, confident, ambitious
student who is likely to become a leader in a field of his or her choice. This curriculum offers students a chance to turn the
community into their classroom with the help from a facilitator and then apply their knowledge in real world
settings. Giving back to and learning from the community are key points of The Society Centered Curriculum. Students
typically do not sit at desks or learn in the form of a lecture. The Society Centered Curriculum teaches students how to
collaborate and work effectively with others to work towards a common goal. Lastly, while students learn in a more
individualized format, the importance of being good, productive community members is a part of every lesson.
The curriculum is based on societal issues and the goal of the curriculum is to explore and solve those issues.
The main focus of the SCC is the group and group action. The SCC curriculum is a problem solving curriculum, and these
problems are to be solved through the participation and efforts of the whole group. Students work to find the social
relevance of their efforts and how they can improve their citizenship by the projects they take on.
In the SCC teachers have a very important role. to help students achieve; their goals.serve as facilitator: organizing group
efforts; helps children develop their social skills • In creating a climate for collaboration and team building. • responsible
for turning their class into a problem-solving unit. • responsible for making connections with community members
Society Centered Perspective
 Focuses on bettering society and teaches students through experiential group work how to do this.
 The main idea of this curriculum is to model citizenship and civic action with students.
Key Beliefs
Content is still useful, but instead of teaching a subject for knowledge it should be applied by students to help solve a real
world issue.
“Knowledge functions as tools in a tool chest, used when needed” (Ellis, 76).
Students work in large groups to design a solution to a problem in their community.
Projects require information from all the subject areas to help effectively solve the problem. This integration of subjects
helps students see how all the knowledge ties together naturally.
Student involvement and engagement are key and this must be achieved through a real world activity that the students are
interested in. This builds collaboration and real world social skills.
The teacher is the facilitator of this activity, but needs to make sure the kids see themselves as a
group and that they are working together.
Assessment
The final effect of the activity is the assessment. The group should self-evaluate to determine if it
addressed the problem it set out to change or correct.
Strengths
Gives experience to students in using knowledge as a tool.
Focuses on multiple intelligences to keep all students involved.
Develops the ideas of citizenship, activism and collaboration for students.
Strengthens the idea of community in the classroom, but also outside of the classroom.
Weaknesses
Grading the project can prove difficult and runs the risk of unfair evaluation by peers and teacher.
Units prove to be very time consuming for teachers and require a lot of effort to keep class on track. Only one or two
Society Centered units are suggested per year.
Specialized content coverage is lost.
Example
Litter Removal-
-Math: the amount of litter in one block radius can be counted and then used to determine the estimated amount of litter in
a local town or comunity
-History: The programs or plans for litter removal or presence in the town should be recorded in town records and this can
be researched to determine what did not work in the past or what did
-English: Students can write letters to their local town hall or board members to present their suggestions for improvement.
-Science: The effects of litter in relation to pollution on an ecosystem can be determined by studying the common litter
materials and determing their impact on the environment and organisms present.
-Art: Students can draw, paint and act out the effect litter has on the community.
Activity
The Society Centered Curriculum
 Democratic Empowerment Approach

Working in your groups determine how you can approach your topic from each subject area, making the assignment
interdisciplinary. You should determine how it can be taught in the following subject areas : Math, History, Science,
English/Language Arts, Art/Music and any other subjects you feel could have an impact on your assigned topic.
Group 1- Nature Trails- The challenge is for the class to learn how nature trails are made and to actualy construct one in
the environment.
Group 2- Eating at School- The challenge is for the class to make recommendations for improving the nutritional, esthetic,
and collegial atmosphere of the school lunchroom, etc.
Group 3- Bicycle Transportation- The challenge is for the class to investigate bicycle safety and to develop a plan for
improving the general use of bicycles by students at and around the school.
Group 4- Traffic Flow- Students study traffic patterns in environment, including the school hallways, play areas, etc., and
make recommendations for needed improvements.
Overview of the Society Centered Approach
Overview
- Students experience curriculum through relevant real world experiences
- Traditional methods of instruction (seat work, textbooks, and exercises) serve to prepare students for real world
application.
- Social issues and group problem solving are the focus.
- Education for citizenship
- Classroom as miniature society, community and democracy. (Ellis, 71-72)

Under the society centered model, your student will love learning, participate in real world problem solving experiences
and will strengthen his or her own sense of purpose and social justice.

Emphasis:
- The society centered curriculum model emphasizes real world experiences, group problem solving and understanding
citizenship. Your student will have infinite opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to real
life problems. Students also explore the ideals of justice, teamwork, collaboration, citizenship, democracy, and
compassion.
Teaching:
- Under the SCC model, the teacher serves as facilitator. The teacher also creates opportunities for group learning, and a
sense of camaraderie among students. Students understand they are part of a group and are not left on their own. Students
and the teacher share the experience and support each other.

Learning:
- Your student will not be bored by traditional subject matter or instruction. The SCC model incorporates integrated
studies where the focus is on problem solving. The content learned in the classroom serves as a tool through which
students acquire necessary skills and knowledge to tackle real life problems. Your student will not ask “when do I need to
know this?” because they will immediately see how knowledge and skills are applicable and necessary in real life.

Environment:
- In the classroom, your student will participate in discussions, group projects and collaborations. The classroom
environment mirrors a democracy where students and teacher collaborate to discuss their course of studies. Your student
will also spend ample time outside the classroom in the community as he or she investigates and participates in activities
and implementing solutions to real world problems.

Assessment:
- Students are assessed on their ability to apply their knowledge and skills to current real life problems. Students
collaborate together to create solutions.