APPROACHES TO CURRICULUM
DESIGN
2.2
Subject-Centered Approach
Reporter:
Kristine N. Suerto
How will a particular
curriculum design be
approached by the
teacher?
What is subject-centered
approach?
- the oldest, and perhaps most
obvious way to organize
curriculum.
History of Subject-Centered Approach in Teaching
This approach can be traced
to ancient Greek society. The
scholars of antiquity studied
the seven liberal arts: music,
grammar, astronomy, rhetoric,
geometry, dialectic and
arithmetic.
Modern day subject-
centered curriculum began in
the 1870s in the St. Louis
School System, headed by
Superintendent William Harris.
Subject-centered Approach
This approach is anchored on a curriculum
design which prescribes separate distinct
subjects for every educational level:
Basic Education
Higher Education
Vocational-Technical Education
Objectives and Accountability
-
The central objective for any
subject-centered approach to
curriculum is student mastery of
content knowledge.
The teacher presents content
and skills in a logical sequence.
Subject-Centered Approach
- tends to focus on the subject
rather than the individual.
Subject-Centered Approach
- each content area contains
its own set of skills and
concepts for mastering the
content.
Subject-Centered Approach
- As practiced, school hours are
allocated to different subjects such
as Science, Mathematics, Language,
Social Studies, Physical Education,
and others.
- In the Philippines, school day
is divided into class period, a
school year into quarters or
semester.
Subject-Centered Approach
Types of Content
1. COMMON CONTENT
represents subjects all students must
study.
Subject-Centered Approach
Types of Content
2. SPECIAL CONTENT
- describe classes that prepare
students for specific professions.
Subject-Centered Approach
Types of Content
3. ELECTIVE CONTENT
refers to optional classes students can
take to enhance their knowledge and
skills.
Subject-Centered Approach
considers the following principles:
1. The primary focus is the subject
matter.
Subject-Centered Approach
2. The emphasis is on bits and pieces
of information which may be detached
from life.
Subject-Centered Approach
3. Learning means accumulation of
content, or knowledge.
Subject-Centered Approach
4. Teacher’s role is to dispense the
content.
Example of Subject-Centered Approach
ABC School aims to produce the best graduates in the
school district. Every learner must excel in all academic
subjects to be on top of every academic competition. The
higher level of cognitive intelligence, the better the learner.
Hence, the focus of learning is mastery of the subject
matter in terms of content. Every student is expected to be
always on top in terms of mastery of the discipline.
Memorization, and drill are important learning skills. The
school gives emphasis on intellectual development and set
aside emotional, psychomotor and even value
development. Success means mastery of the content.
Thank you for listening.