Conceptualization of Curriculum Development Models in Higher Education

Subject Areas : Research in Curriculum Planning

طلعت دیبا واجاری ¹ , محمد یمنی دوزی سرخابی ² , محبوبه عارفی ³ , هاشم فردانش ⁴

1 - دانشگاه شهید بهشتی
2 - دانشگاه شهید بهشتی
3 - دانشگاه شهید بهشتی
4 - دانشگاه تربیت مدرس

Received: 2017-10-17 Accepted : 2017-10-17 Published : 2011-09-23

Keywords: curriculum approaches, curriculum development, higher education curriculum,

Abstract :

  Curriculum development in higher education is one of the modern domains of curriculum field and also it has been a missing element in higher education studies as well, because the curriculum has not seriously been engaged within higher education debate and policy formation and even in its practice. Curriculum design process in not yet properly reflective practice and then it is critical to conceptualize different attempts have been made to explore this process as a deliberative enterprise. This paper tries to conceptualize the different curriculum development models in higher education by using four approaches, i.e. the prescriptive approach, the descriptive approach conceptual and strategic approach models. To analyze the nature of different approaches, it attempts to clarify theoretical perspectives and the main characteristics of each approach and classifies curriculum development models which are under each approach. Then the relationship between prescriptive, the descriptive, conceptual and strategic approaches are illustrated. It is argued that these models reflects a historical evolution of dealing with curriculum in higher education settings, started from curriculum making and moving more and more on curriculum understanding