By Dr. Sultan Muhammad Khan
Keywords: Learner-Centered curriculum, what is the Characteristics of Learner-Centered Curriculum? Applications of learner Centered Curriculum base on Children’s
There are many types of curriculum, but here we will discuss only Learner-Centered curriculum, Types or curriculum are; Subject curriculum, Teacher Centered curriculum, Learner centered curriculum, Activity/Experience curriculum, Integrated curriculum, Core curriculum, Board field curriculum, Hidden curriculum
Learner-Centered Curriculum
The supporters of learner-centered
Curriculum give importance to individual development and they wants to organize
the curriculum according to the needs and interest of learners, there are fundamental
differences in this approach and the subject-centered design.
This movement from the traditional
curriculum towards a programme that stresses the interests and needs of
students, this approach was used by Rousseau in the education of Emile, then
Dewy in his Laboratory School in 1896-1904. It is believed that all of these
twentieth-century efforts reflect the influence of Dewey.
It is a fundamental principle of education
that the beginning of each instruction it shall be connected with the previous
experience of learners. The purpose is that the experience and the capacities
that have been developed in early lessons, it should provide a starting point
for further learning. The current
importance given to student-centered programmes may not always acknowledge the
Dewey’s philosophy and influence on the movement to incorporate more
student-serving learning opportunities into the curriculum.
The association for the Advancement
of Progressive Education formed in 1919, had its aim “The development of the
individual, based upon the scientific study of his mental, physical, spiritual,
and social characteristics and needs”. The views of this association, later
called the Progressive Education Association (PEA), were compatible with the
ideas of Dewey’s as indicated by their principles:
- Freedom to develop naturally.
- Interest is the motive of all work.
- The teacher is a guide, not a task-master.
- Scientific study of pupil development.
- Greater attention to all that affects the child’s physical development.
- Co-operation between school and home to meet the needs of child-life.
- The progressive school a leader in educational movement.
The aim of using the
learner-centered curriculum on the part of curriculum planners to interpret the
needs and interests design as one based on common needs and interests of
learners rather than on those of the particular population to be served.
Reflected in curriculum plans, this interpretation could and sometimes did,
become the rationale for teaching. Research on learner centered curriculum in
recent years made it possible for curriculum planners to develop a better
learner-centered curriculum. Modern learning theories and dissatisfaction of
students and parents from the old curriculum are moving curriculum and
instruction toward a design that focus on real student needs and interests.
Characteristics
of Learner-Centered Curriculum:
The curriculum design on the needs
and interests of student has these characteristic and features.
- The curriculum plan is based on knowledge of learner’s needs and interests in general and diagnosis the specific needs and interests of the population served by the plan.
- The curriculum plan is flexible; to accept new modification to conform to the needs and interests of particular learner’s In fact, in some curriculum designs the learner may develop his or her own curriculum plan with the guidance of a teacher.
3. The learner is consulted and
tutored individually at difficult
points in the curriculum and instructional process.
Learner centered approach is an
example of the applications of needs and interests (activities) approach.
Subject obstacles were lowered or removed as teachers combined subjects to
study social problems identified by students.
Students in the experimental schools
were more successful in college. This practice has ever lasting effect on
secondary education.
- Applications of learner Centered Curriculum:
If the learning opportunities are
not based on the needs and interests of the learners then there is no assurance
that the learners well equipped with the skills to participate effectively in
social activities; students as adults and good citizens. Therefore we see that
the needs and interests design as especially appropriate for the personal
development, but not for the social competence domain.
The most common approach to meet the
needs and interests of learners is the grouping of students for special
programmes believed by the planners to match the needs and interests of the students
concerned.
The major use of the needs and
interests design in curriculum planning is in the provision of options for
individual students. For example, the middle schools provide many special
interests activate exploratory courses and other experiences aimed at giving
each student opportunities to explore their own interest.
Currently the movement in higher
education and expansion of it by “Open University” arrangements illustrates the
feature of the needs and interests design. Drunker (1969) argues for continuing
education which assumes “that the more experience in life and work people have,
the more eager they will be to learn and the more capable they will be of
learning.
Curriculum plans emphasizing the
option concept:
- The options are based on knowledge of learner characteristic.
- Scheduling and other arrangements facilitate selection and choice of options, with counseling services available to help students.
- Students are actively involved in planning and evaluating the options in general and for themselves in particular.
Read more about types of different
curriculum
