Curriculum Theory and Development Flashcards
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Which curriculum theory argues that school knowledge is a social construction that reflects the interests of those in power?
Answer: Reconceptualist curriculum theory
Reconceptualist curriculum theorists like William Pinar argue that curriculum must be understood as a political, social, and cultural text reflecting power relations rather than neutral content.
The 'spiral curriculum,' developed by Jerome Bruner, proposes that:
Answer: Complex ideas should be introduced early and revisited with increasing depth and sophistication across grades
Bruner's spiral curriculum revisits fundamental concepts repeatedly across grade levels, each time with greater complexity and abstraction appropriate to the student's cognitive development.
Which of the following best describes an 'outcome-based' curriculum?
Answer: A curriculum where instruction is organized around clearly defined student performance outcomes
Outcome-based education (OBE) organizes all curriculum, instruction, and assessment around explicit statements of what students will be able to do upon completion.
In curriculum theory, 'curriculum alignment' refers to:
Answer: The coherence among written curriculum, taught curriculum, and tested curriculum
Curriculum alignment ensures that what is planned (written), what is actually taught (enacted), and what is assessed (tested) are consistent and mutually reinforcing.
The 'enacted curriculum' refers to:
Answer: The curriculum as it is actually delivered by teachers in classrooms
The enacted (or 'lived' or 'operational') curriculum is what teachers actually teach day-to-day, which may differ significantly from the official written curriculum.
Which curriculum design approach organizes content around the needs, interests, and experiences of learners rather than academic disciplines?
Answer: Learner-centered design
Learner-centered curriculum design, influenced by Dewey and progressivism, builds content around student interests, developmental needs, and real-life experiences.
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Sources & references
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- getcollegecredit.com — Eligibility, fees, registration, score release, exam format, passing score, time limit · verified Oct 2026
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