The Most Influential Curriculum Theorists

1. John Dewey ( 1859-1952)

John Dewey is an american Philosopher and educator . John Dewey probably
gained the most publicity thanks to his role in the studies into progressive
education. Progressive education in essence is a vision of education that
emphasises the necessity of learning by doing. According to the John Dewey
theory, people learn best through a hands-on approach. As a result, the
philosophies and views of John Dewey are placed in the educational
philosophy of pragmatism.

John Dewey and other pragmatists are convinced that students or other
persons who are learning must experience reality as it is. From John Dewey’s
educational point of view, this means that students must adapt to their
environment in order to learn. The John Dewey theory shows that the great
thinker had the same ideas about teachers. His view of the ideal classroom
had many similarities with democratic ideals. Dewey posits that it isn’t just the
student who learns, but rather the experience of students and teachers
together that yields extra value for both.

John Dewey’s theory recommends an interdisciplinary curriculum, or a

curriculum that focuses on connecting multiple subjects where students can
freely walk in and out of classrooms. In this way, they pursue their own
interests, and build their own method for acquiring and applying specific
knowledge.

2.  Franklin Bobbit (1876-1956)

Bobbit believes that the learning objectives, together with the activities, should
be grouped and sequenced after clarifying the instructional activities and
tasks. He also views curriculum as a science that emphasizes the needs of
the students. This viewpoint explains why lessons are planned and organized
depending on the needs of the students and these needs must be addressed
by the teachers to prepare them for adult life.

3. Werret Charters (1875-1952)

Aside from emphasizing the students’ needs, he believes that the objectives,
along with the corresponding activities, should be aligned with the subject
matter or content. For that reason, department chairpersons or course
coordinators scrutinize the alignment or matching of objectives and subject
matter prepared by the faculty members.
4. William Kilpatrick (1871-1965)
For him, the purpose of curriculum is child development, growth, and social
relationship. He also introduced the use of small group interaction, and the
project method in which the teacher and students plan together. Thus, it is
called as the child-centered curriculum.

5. Harold Rugg (1886-1960)

He introduced the concept of the development of the whole child, the inclusion
of social studies, and the importance of curriculum planning in advance.

6. Hollis Caswell (1901-1989)

He believes that subject matter is developed around the interest of the
learners and their social functions. So, the curriculum is a set of experiences.
Learners must experience what they learn.

7. Hilda Taba (1902 – 1967)

The Taba Model was developed by Hilda Taba , an architect, a curriculum
theorist, a curriculum reformer, and a teacher educator. She was born in the
small village of Kooraste, Estonia. Taba believed that there has to be a
definite order in creating a curriculum. This model is used to enhance the
thinking skills of students. Hilda Taba believed that there must be a process
for evaluating student achievement of content after the content standards
have been established and implemented. The main concept of this approach
to curriculum development is that teachers must be involved in the
development of the curriculum.

8. Ralph Tyler (1902-1994) “The Father of Evaluation or Father of

Behavioral Objectives.”
And as to the hallmark of curriculum development as a science, Ralph Tyler
believes that curriculum should revolve around the students’ needs and
interests. The purpose of curriculum is to educate the generalists and not the
specialists, and the process must involve problem solving. Likewise, subject
matter is planned in terms of imparting knowledge, skills and values among
students.

To sum it up, the famous curriculum theorists have almost similar views. All of
them believe that the curriculum should be learner-centered – addressing the
needs and interests of the students. All of them have salient contributions to
the educational system of the world today.

If you are an observant student, you might ask the following questions about

your teachers:

 Why is it that we are required to do projects, solve problems, and work

in groups?
 Why is it that our teachers are being observed in class, and their
lesson plans or syllabi are checked?
 Why is it that all of us should take social studies, and not only the 3Rs?
 Why are the lessons being prepared in advance?
 Why should we experience what we have learned?
 Why do our teachers integrate values in our lessons?
 And why is it that the school is after our development as whole
individuals (to become generalists) and be ready to face life’s challenges?
The answers to your questions are the people behind our educational system.
They are the curriculum theorists.

Now, would you like to become one someday?

Reference

Bilbao, P. P., Lucido, P. I., Iringan, T. C., and Javier, R. B. (2008). Curriculum
development. Philippines: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.

© 2014 December 3 M. G. Alvior