Curriculum / Syllabus design models

A commonly described two main groups of curriculum design (Neary 2003, p39):

1. The Product Model (technical-scientific approach) emphasises plans and intentions –

subject centred designs

Different curriculum models:

Learning Outcomes Curriculum - Tyler (1949) Backward Design Model - Wiggins & McTighe (2010) Fink’s (2003) model

2. The Process Model (non-technical approach) emphasises activities and effects – learner

centred

‘Subject matter tentatively selected in the development process has importance only to the

degree that a student can find meaning in it for himself or herself’ (Ornstein and Hunkins,

2004, p207)

Different curriculum models:

The Deliberative model (Ornstein and Hunkins, 2004) Post-positivism models (Ornstein and Hunkins, 2004)

Currently used curriculum model is at QMUL Medical School is

‘’Spiral curriculum’’

A spiral curriculum is one in which there is an iterative revisiting of topics, subjects or

themes throughout the course. A spiral curriculum is not simply the repetition of a topic

taught. It requires also the deepening of it, with each successive encounter building on the

previous one.

The features of a spiral curriculum:

Topics are revisited

There are increasing levels of difficulty

New learning is related to previous learning

The competence of students increases

The value of a spiral curriculum lies in:

Reinforcement

A move from simple to complex

Integration

Logical sequence

Higher level objectives

Flexibility

Applicability in my line of work:

When designing a curriculum think about connectivity of the curriculum with previous knowledge

Important authors:

Bruner, J.S. (1960) The Process of Education (Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press).

Toohey, S. (2000). Beliefs, values and ideologies in course design. In Designing courses for higher education. (pp44-69).

Tyler, R.W. (1949). Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Ornstein A.C. & Hunkins, F.P. (2004).Curriculum foundations, principles and issues. (3rd ed)). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.