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.