EXPERIENCE: Online Interview

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Direction: In this activity, let us find out how administrators, teachers, students, educators,
community and family members define curriculum from their own points of view.
1. With a classmate, conduct an online interview of the following lay persons:
 Elementary Grade teacher
 School Principal
 Non education student
 Parent
 Any member of the family
 vendor
2. Ask each one the question “What is curriculum to you?
3. Record their answers and present the definition in a matrix form.
4. Compare each definition. Are they similar? Different?

Persons Interviewed Answer to question: What is curriculum to you?

Curriculum is a guide for all the competence in all learning
areas. It is the compilation of what the learners need to be
learned for the whole year. It is the skeletal system of the
education and it can change depends on the quality of the
Elementary /Secondary
education.
Grade Teacher

Curriculum is the standard base sequence of plan and

School Principal
experiences where students practice in achieve proficiency in
content and applied learning skills. Curriculum is the central
guide for all educators as to what is essential for teaching and
learning, so that every students has access to academic
experiences.

For me, curriculum is a set of academic contents or subjects.

Non Education Student

Ang curriculum sa akoa kay kanang mga gipang tun-an nga

lesson sa skwelahan.
Parent

For me, curriculum is the heart of the school because it cannot

exist without curriculum.
Any Member of the
Family

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 Curriculum ito ay makakatulong sa mga bata or mag-aaral
Vendor para makamit nila ang kanilang gustong malaman bilang
mag-aaral.

EXCHANGE
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Think-Talk pa more!

Direction:

1. Choose your online partner through chat in your FB page, group chat or messenger.
2. Think about your definition of curriculum and talk more about it with your partner.
3. Record your conversation and make a narrative report.
4. Take turn and be an active listener.

Your Partner’s Narrative:

Masasabi kung ngayon lamang ako namulat sa totoong depinisyon ng kurikulum ng
napabilang ako sa klase ng asignaturang The Teacher and the School Curriculum. Dito,
mas naunawaan ko kung ano talaga ang bulwagang kahulugan nito. Kung
pagbabasihan lang ang aming datos at impormasyong nakalap sa pakikipagpanayam,
mas may ideya pa ang mga nagtitinda kung ano ang kurikulum kaysa sa akin na nag-
aaral.

Laking pasasalamat ko sa guro ng asignaturang ito, sapagkat may mabungang

pag-uusap ang nabuo patungkol sa kurikulum. Dito ko napag alaman na ang kurikulum
ay ang kabuuang gabay sa mag-aaral kung ano ang dapat ituro at dapat matutuhan.
Halimbawa na lamang dito ay ang mag-aaral sa pre-school at ang mga mag-aaral sa
kolehiyo. May tamang nakalaan na kurikulum sa mga mag-aaral ng pre-school, at
gayundin sa kolehiyo. Hindi pweding pagpalitin ang mga nakalaang kurikulum sapagkat
sinusuri dito ang antas ng ating kaalaman. Ang kurikulum din ay ang disiplina, gawain, at
kagamitan sa paaralan. Kabilang na rin dito ang mga konsepto, materyales, programa o
mga pagtatasa.

Higit pa, Kahit na ang kurikulum ay nagbabago-bago dulot narin ng pagbabago sa

teknolohiya, nananatili paring buhay ang layunin ng kurikulum na makapag bigay gabay
tungo sa mabungang pag-aaral.

Your Statement of Appreciation:

Aminado akong ngayon ko lang din nalaman ang totoong kahulugan ng kurikulum.
Kung hindi dahil sa asignaturang ito, ang ideya ko sa kurikulum ay mananatiling subjects o
K-12 curriculum. Napakalawak pala ng kahulugan ng kurikulum. At oo, tama ka dyan na
iba-iba ang kurikulum sa bawat baitang. Bilang isang mga magiging guro sa nalalapit na
panahon, kailangan ay maging mabuting curricularist tayo upang masigurong mabigyan
natin ng makabuluhang pag-aaral ang mga mag-aaral.

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 EXPAND
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Activity 1. Writing Personal Concepts of Curriculum

Direction: Write your personal concepts about a curriculum.

Curriculum is such a broad topic to discuss. But if you understand it, it is quite easy to
get the picture and you can define it in one sentence. For instance, you can say
“Curriculum is a comprehensive plan for learning.” or “Curriculum involves all the
meaningful activities in a school.” These two examples are general. It is just one sentence
but it covers all that is included. At first, I did not know what “curriculum” truly means.
Before, if I were asked what is my idea about curriculum, I will answer, “It is the subjects or
courses.” or I will simply say “K-12 curriculum?” with question mark because I am not sure.
However, thanks to this course, I do now understand what curriculum truly means and I
must say that I was quite shocked about the truth.

As I read the Saber-Tooth Curriculum, it’s quite fascinating how curriculum came first
before schools. I really thought schools came first before curriculum. Now that I have read
it, it make sense. Now, I already said that curriculum is a broad topic. Indeed, curriculum is
everything that goes on within the school, including the subjects/courses, the teaching
strategies, the performances, the guidance, the programs, the extra-curricular activities,
the interpersonal relationships and etc., all to make sure that students have a wholesome
learning experience. In addition, according to Better Kid Care (2015), an effective
curriculum is organized, intentionally implemented, is responsive to and reflective of
children, is research-based, and is dynamic. It’s woven into all activities and routines and
informs all aspects of an early learning program, environmental design, materials,
schedule, assessment, and program evaluation. It’s also a balance of planned activities
and emergent activities. It’s focused on the development of the whole learner:
cognitively, physically, linguistically, socially, and emotionally. This definition points only to
one goal, and it is to promote positive outcome of the curriculum.

In short, curriculum is the heart of the school. A school cannot exist without a
curriculum. It is the guidance of what the school follows and it is what will define the whole
learning experience of the learners.

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 REFLECTION ACTIVITY

Direction: Express your insights and reflection on the following essential

questions about a school curriculum.

(A) Is it necessary for teachers to learn about school curriculum? Why?

Yes, because the play a great part in developing the school curriculum to make
sure that learners have a wholesome learning experience.

(B) Can a school exist without a curriculum? Why or why not?

No, a school cannot exist without a curriculum. In the first place, school was built
because of a curriculum. In Saber-tooth Curriculum, New-fist set up an educational goal
and then constructed a curriculum for reaching that goal before building the school. In
short, curriculum is the primary foundation for a school to stand. It is the “the ways” on how
the school functions.

(C) How does a strong belief or philosophy influence curriculum?

When you have a strong belief/philosophy, it drives you to do unimaginable things.

Like how New-Fist pushed through his belief and successfully constructed a curriculum and
building a school. So just like New-Fist, if you’re a teacher and you have a strong
belief/philosophy about your learners’ education, you will strive hard and do your best to
help in constructing a good curriculum. Also you will continue to enhance your knowledge
and skills to make sure you provide good curriculum to the learners.

(D) As future teachers, how important will a curriculum be to you?

It is extremely important as everything we do at school is designed by a curriculum.

It is what will define how will my learners turn out to be. So as a future teacher, I must make
sure I contribute in producing a positive outcome of a curriculum.

(E) What are the implications of an ever -changing curriculum to teachers?

An ever-changing curriculum means coming up with more ways to improve the

education of learners as needs arises. The teachers as curricularist must be ready any time
for a change in curriculum. But, there are what is called “hidden curriculum” and it’s the
small things that teachers do in a classroom like the way they teach or the small advices or
morals that they give to the learners. It does not need to go on a long process. But, if one
wants to make changes in a curriculum, it has to undergo long process because it must be
carefully planned before it’s implemented.

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 EXAMINE
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SELF-CHECK: SPIN A WIN: AGREE OR DISAGREE

Direction: Read carefully each statement and decide whether you Agree or Disagree.
Please check the appropriate column for your decision.

Decision
STATEMENT
Agree Disagree

1. In the Saber Tooth Curriculum, learning is experiential and

authentic. 
2. It is a reality that there exists more than one curricula in the
teacher’s classroom. 
3. A teacher can say with confidence that learning has
occurred, if the curriculum has been assessed. 
4. Some curricula in the schools/classrooms are unwritten. 
5. To establish national standards, teachers should be guided by
recommended curriculum in basic and higher education. 
6. Teachers should expect that school curricula are dynamic
and changing. 
7. Evaluated curriculum makes judgment about learning. 
8. Textbooks and modules are written curricula that represent
the recommended curricula. 
9. Only the Department of Education can recommend a
curriculum. 
10. In the heart of all the types of curricula, the teacher has a
major role. 
11. Curriculum is everything that goes on within the school,
including extra-class activities, guidance, and interpersonal 
relationships.
12. Curriculum is everything that is planned by school personnel
only. 
13. Curriculum is what is taught inside the school only that is
directed by the teacher. 
14. A change in curriculum does not take time and allows shortcuts. It
does not demand a disciplined execution. 
15. Curriculum as a discipline has its own principles, theories and
practice. 
16. In order for change to be positive and result in development,
it must be purposeful, planned and progressive. 
17. Curriculum is a series of experiences undergone by learners in
school. 
18. Curriculum is static and permanent. 
19. Curriculum is a set of performance objectives. 
20. Curriculum is a course of study. 

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