What Is Curriculum? And WHAT vs. HOW
Kieran Egan’s article “What Is Curriculum?” is a somewhat instigative publication that focuses on the meaning of curriculum. According to Egan, curriculum is “the study of any and all educational phenomena” (1978, p.16). While Egan’s article includes various historical perspectives on what curriculum may in fact be, he holds steadfast to the argument that curriculum should be focussing on WHAT or the content that should be taught, rather than the HOW which focuses more heavily on “the individual as the learners” (1978, p. 13). Furthermore, Egan argues that it is more important to focus on the WHAT in order to “present strong arguments for or against specific…content” (1978, p. 16) and uses an analogy outlining when the HOW is the focus, learners are left behind. For example, “when we ponder how questions, another child has learned two things where our children have learned none…” (1973, p.16). There is also the notion that a focus on the HOW, rather than the WHAT will leave learners with unclarity, rather than certainty. Â
My Perspective of WHAT vs. HOW and My Experience:
Although I agree with Egan’s argument that WHAT (or the content) should be the focus in curriculum development, as I believe it is important to have a strong base of knowledge or foundation to support further learner growth, I am not as steadfast. I do consider the individual in terms of HOW I would like my learners to learn specific criteria or content knowledge, and thus take into account different learning styles. I want to know that the WHAT will provide my learners with transferrable skills that can be created through the examination and mastery of completing specific course content. For example, as a social studies teacher, it is essential to have background information and knowledge content of past injustices to comprehend their impacts on society today and to gain an understanding of measures to prevent societal injustices from occurring again.Â
Ambiguities?
As an educator, I am comfortable with not having a hard and steadfast curriculum. I do feel the WHAT or content is extremely important to support students in moving forward and into the working world or further studies. However, I also believe it is essential to provide students with some options within their learning that will support and strengthen their learning endeavours and experiences.Â
ResourcesÂ
Egan, K. (1997). What Is Curriculum. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226190402.001.0001
By Deirdre Houghton