Principles of Curriculum Construction: – After knowing the meaning and definitions of curriculum, we may discuss some of the principles of curriculum construction which are as follows: 1. Principle of Child Centeredness: Modern approach to curriculum construction should be paedocentric as well as democratic in the sense that the child should occupy a central position in the entire teaching learning process and he should actively participate in it.

The child should be the key to all kinds of curricular programmes. His ability, interest, attitudes and needs should be considered at the time of curriculum construction.2. Principle of Flexibility and Variety: As recommended by Secondary Education Commission (1953), the secondary school curriculum should provide variety and flexibility.

Modern curriculum should be constructed in consonance with the local and individual needs and conditions. There must be variety in the curriculum in order to cater to the needs of the individual. The learners should be given freedom of choice in selecting subjects.

1. 3. Principle of Correlation:
2. Various subjects in the curriculum should be properly coordinated and every subject must have some relation with other subjects which should be felt by teachers and pupils.
3. 4. Principle of Integration:

The principle of integration is important for the development of all-round personality of the child. Various subjects included in the curriculum at a particular stage of education should be integrated like history, civics, geography as social studies.

Various activities should be organised according to the principle of integration.5. Principle of Community Service: The modern curriculum should be related to community life. The needs and conditions of the community should determine the nature and content of curriculum. The curriculum should be so designed as to facilitate the optimum utilization of community resources for the development of education and the vice versa.6.

Principle of Values : In the emerging society, a number of desirable values are to be inculcated in our children. So modern curriculum should provide for inculcating values of social, moral, spiritual, democratic and aesthetic.7. Principle of Totality: The Secondary Education commission has also highlighted this principle by suggesting that there must be totality of learning experiences that are given to the pupil through the manifold activities in the classroom and available in the library, laboratory, workshop, play ground and informal contacts between teachers In this way the entire life of the school becomes the curriculum that can touch the life of the students at all points.

What are the basic principles of curriculum development?

The main principles of curriculum construction may be mentioned as under The main principles of curriculum construction may be mentioned as under: 1. Principle of Child Centeredness. As modern education is child-centred the curriculum should also be child-centred.

Highlights Principles of Curriculum Construction are: 1. Principles of Child Centredness ; 2. Principle of Community Centredness ; 3. Principle of Activity Centredness ; 4. Principle of Variety ; 5. Principle of Co-ordinations and Integration; 6. Principle of Conservation; 7. Principle of Creativity;

8. Principle of Forward. Looking; 9. Principle of Flexibility; 10. Principle of Balance; 11. Principle of Utility.2. Principle of Community Centredness. Though the child’s development and growth is the main consideration of curriculum construction, yet his social behaviour is also to be suitably developed, both the individual development and the social development of the child deserve equal attention.

1. He is to live in and for the society.
2. Therefore, his needs and desires must be in conformity with the needs and desires of the society in which he is to live.
3. The values, attitudes and skills that are prevailing in the community must be reflected in the curriculum.
4. However, the society is not static.
5. It is dynamic.

Its needs and requirements are changing with the rapid developments taking place in all fields. While working for the development, this factor cannot be ignored.3. Principle of Activity Centredness. The curriculum should centre round the multifarious activities of pupils.

It should provide well selected activities according to the general interests and developmental stages of children. It should provide constructive, creative and project activities. For small children, play activities should also be provided.! The purposeful activities both in the class-room and outside the class-room should be provided.

It is through a net work of activities that the desired experiences can be provided and consequently desirable behavioural changes can be brought about in children.4. Principle of Variety. The curriculum should be broad-based so as to accommodate the needs of varied categories of pupils, so that they are able to take up subjects and participate in activities according their capacities and interests.

The needs of pupils also change from place to place. For example, the pupils in rural areas, urban areas, and hilly areas will have different needs. The needs of boys and girls are also different. So these considerations should be reflected in the curriculum.5. Principle of Co-ordination and Integration.

Of course, the pupils are to be provided with selected experiences through various subjects and activities but these must be well integrated. Various subjects and activities have to serve the same ultimate purpose, the achievement of the aims of education.

The activities and subjects should not be put in after-tight compartments but these should be inter-related and well integrated so as to develop the whole child.6. Principles of Conservation. One of the main functions of education is to preserve and transmit our cultural heritage. This is essential for human progress.

Culture consists of traditions, customs, attitudes, skills, conduct, values and knowledge. However, the curriculum framers must make a suitable selection of the elements of culture, keeping n view their educational value and the developmental stage of pupils.7.

• Principle of Creativity.
• The conservation of culture helps to sustain the society.
• The culture should not be simply transmitted but also enriched.
• There should be provision in the curriculum to develop he creative powers of the child so that he becomes a contributory member society.
• Raymont says, “In curriculum that is suited to the needs of today and of the future, there must be definitely creative subjects.” 8.

Principle of Forward Looking. Education is to enable the child to lead a successful social life. So the curriculum should not cater to the present needs of the child alone. The needs of his future life should also be considered. The curriculum should also include knowledge, skills, experiences, influences etc.

1. Which will develop in the child abilities and power to make effective adjustments in the later life.9.
2. Principle of Flexibility.
3. In our age, rapid developments are taking place in various fields.
4. Consequently the needs of society are hanging.
5. The content of curriculum cannot be same for all times to come.

It should not be static. It must be dynamic and change with the changing times. It should reflect the latest trends in the field of education and psychology.10. Principle of Balance. The curriculum must maintain a balance between subjects and activities, between direct and indirect experiences, between academic and vocational education, between compulsory and optional subjects, between formal and informal education, between individual and social aims of education etc.11.

• Principle of Utility.
• Curriculum should be useful rather than ornamental.
• It should not only include subjects which owe their place in it to tradition.
• The curriculum must have practical utility for students.
• So there should be some provision for technical and vocational education in the curriculum.
• The various principles of curriculum construction should be kept in mind.

Various regional and national conditions should also be considered. It fact, all considerations which will help in achieving the aims of education should be given due consideration. : The main principles of curriculum construction may be mentioned as under

What are the main features of a good curriculum?

9. Principle of Flexibility. – In our age, rapid developments are taking place in various fields. Consequently the needs of society are hanging. The con tent of curriculum cannot be same for all times to come. It should not be static. It must be dynamic and change with the changing times. It should reflect the latest trends in the field of education and psychology.

What are the principles of child centered education?

The main principles of curriculum construction may be mentioned as under The main principles of curriculum construction may be mentioned as under: 1. Principle of Child Centeredness. As modern education is child-centred the curriculum should also be child-centred.

Highlights Principles of Curriculum Construction are: 1. Principles of Child Centredness ; 2. Principle of Community Centredness ; 3. Principle of Activity Centredness ; 4. Principle of Variety ; 5. Principle of Co-ordinations and Integration; 6. Principle of Conservation; 7. Principle of Creativity;

8. Principle of Forward. Looking; 9. Principle of Flexibility; 10. Principle of Balance; 11. Principle of Utility.2. Principle of Community Centredness. Though the child’s development and growth is the main consideration of curriculum construction, yet his social behaviour is also to be suitably developed, both the individual development and the social development of the child deserve equal attention.

1. He is to live in and for the society.
2. Therefore, his needs and desires must be in conformity with the needs and desires of the society in which he is to live.
3. The values, attitudes and skills that are prevailing in the community must be reflected in the curriculum.
4. However, the society is not static.
5. It is dynamic.

Its needs and requirements are changing with the rapid developments taking place in all fields. While working for the development, this factor cannot be ignored.3. Principle of Activity Centredness. The curriculum should centre round the multifarious activities of pupils.

It should provide well selected activities according to the general interests and developmental stages of children. It should provide constructive, creative and project activities. For small children, play activities should also be provided.! The purposeful activities both in the class-room and outside the class-room should be provided.

It is through a net work of activities that the desired experiences can be provided and consequently desirable behavioural changes can be brought about in children.4. Principle of Variety. The curriculum should be broad-based so as to accommodate the needs of varied categories of pupils, so that they are able to take up subjects and participate in activities according their capacities and interests.

The needs of pupils also change from place to place. For example, the pupils in rural areas, urban areas, and hilly areas will have different needs. The needs of boys and girls are also different. So these considerations should be reflected in the curriculum.5. Principle of Co-ordination and Integration.

Of course, the pupils are to be provided with selected experiences through various subjects and activities but these must be well integrated. Various subjects and activities have to serve the same ultimate purpose, the achievement of the aims of education.

The activities and subjects should not be put in after-tight compartments but these should be inter-related and well integrated so as to develop the whole child.6. Principles of Conservation. One of the main functions of education is to preserve and transmit our cultural heritage. This is essential for human progress.

Culture consists of traditions, customs, attitudes, skills, conduct, values and knowledge. However, the curriculum framers must make a suitable selection of the elements of culture, keeping n view their educational value and the developmental stage of pupils.7.

Principle of Creativity. The conservation of culture helps to sustain the society. The culture should not be simply transmitted but also enriched. There should be provision in the curriculum to develop he creative powers of the child so that he becomes a contributory member society. Raymont says, “In curriculum that is suited to the needs of today and of the future, there must be definitely creative subjects.” 8.

Principle of Forward Looking. Education is to enable the child to lead a successful social life. So the curriculum should not cater to the present needs of the child alone. The needs of his future life should also be considered. The curriculum should also include knowledge, skills, experiences, influences etc.

which will develop in the child abilities and power to make effective adjustments in the later life.9. Principle of Flexibility. In our age, rapid developments are taking place in various fields. Consequently the needs of society are hanging. The content of curriculum cannot be same for all times to come.

principles of curriculum construction

It should not be static. It must be dynamic and change with the changing times. It should reflect the latest trends in the field of education and psychology.10. Principle of Balance. The curriculum must maintain a balance between subjects and activities, between direct and indirect experiences, between academic and vocational education, between compulsory and optional subjects, between formal and informal education, between individual and social aims of education etc.11.

Principle of Utility. Curriculum should be useful rather than ornamental. It should not only include subjects which owe their place in it to tradition. The curriculum must have practical utility for students. So there should be some provision for technical and vocational education in the curriculum. The various principles of curriculum construction should be kept in mind.

Various regional and national conditions should also be considered. It fact, all considerations which will help in achieving the aims of education should be given due consideration. : The main principles of curriculum construction may be mentioned as under