Maharashtra Board Class 12 Education Chapter 6 Curriculum and Educational Evaluation PDF Download

Curriculum and Educational Evaluation

Before coming to the school we learnt many things from our family, friends, neighbours etc. This learning happens informally. We get planned education in the schools. We learn various subjects in the school and complete the relevant subject practicals. We also participate in various competitions, dance, music and various sports. It means that, in school we complete all the scheduled activities in a disciplined way. We take formal education in the schools. For this purpose educational aims and objectives are framed. While framing the objectives, physical, mental, social, emotional and moral development of the students is considered. So we take into consideration the basis of educational philosophy, educational psychology, educational sociology, etc. All round development of the students is the main aim of education. So to develop various skills among students, to give subject knowledge as well as to develop potential talents, is also equally important. So at school level, developing curriculum is an important task. Curriculum is the important means to fulfil the aims and objectives of education. Curriculum is decided to give guidance about what to teach and how to teach the students. While developing the curriculum, age group of students, their interests, environment, society etc. are considered. Curriculum gets changed from time to time. In order to include the changes, curriculum is developed according to strata of education. After developing curriculum, syllabus is designed for each standard. Subject experts from concerned subjects collaborate together and develop the curriculum. So what is curriculum? How curriculum is developed? What are the principles of curriculum development? It is essential to study these issues regarding curriculum.

The English word curriculum is derived from Latin language. Original Latin word is currer means to run or to proceed.

Teacher's Note

In your school, you study many subjects like English, Hindi, Math, Science and Social Studies. All these subjects together make the curriculum. For example, your curriculum also includes sports day and annual function.

Exam Trick

Remember: Curriculum = All subjects + Activities + Sports + Competitions. It is not just books. It includes everything your school teaches you.

Points to Remember

Curriculum means all the subjects, activities and experiences in school.
Curriculum helps students develop their skills and knowledge.
Teachers plan the curriculum based on the age of students.
Curriculum changes with time and society needs.
Good curriculum helps in all-round development of students.

Concept of Curriculum

By curriculum, we consider many school subjects. It includes textbooks, content and its structure of the subject. So in order to understand what is curriculum, it is necessary to learn definitions of the curriculum given by some educationists.

According to Manroe, Curriculum embodies all the experiences which are utilized by the school to attain the aims of education.

Curriculum does not mean only the academic subjects traditionally taught in the school, but it includes totality of experiences that a child receives at the school. In this sense, the entire school life becomes the curriculum, which touches all aspects of the life of the students and help in all round development of the personality. - Secondary Education Commission Report.

In short, Curriculum means to impart knowledge of various subjects, to complete the projects related to the subject, to arrange various co-curricular activities, to develop the potential qualities among the students, to take the students for educational excursion, to make the learning process more joyful and to give more and more enriched experience. The fulfilment of aims of education and the achievement of objectives of education depends on curriculum. Hence curriculum development has great importance in education. Why to teach? What to teach? How to teach? How many objectives are fulfilled? To find the answers for these questions the following points should be considered.

Educational Objectives - In the beginning, the objectives of the subject are decided according to the age group and stage of education of the student.

Content - After framing the objectives, subject content is decided. The difficulty level is decided on the basis of individual differences and the content is decided accordingly.

Teaching Methods and Tools - Different teaching methods are used to teach the content given in the textbook. Various tools are used to give variety of learning experiences to the students.

Tools of Evaluation - Various evaluation tools are used to check, to what extent the educational objectives are achieved? Whether the desired change in student's behaviour is occured or not.

Teacher's Note

When you study Science, your teacher teaches you about plants, animals and experiments. This subject content is decided carefully for your class level. Teachers use different ways to teach like demonstrations and videos.

Exam Trick

Remember: Curriculum has four main parts - Objectives, Content, Teaching Methods, and Evaluation Tools. Think of it like a recipe: what to make, what ingredients, how to cook, and how to check if it is good.

Points to Remember

Curriculum includes what subjects to teach and how to teach them.
Teachers decide what is best for students of different age groups.
The content should match the students' level of understanding.
Different teaching methods make learning interesting.
Evaluation tools help teachers check if students have learned.

Principles of Curriculum Development

While considering the components of curriculum, following principles should be considered.

Curriculum should be Target Oriented - Curriculum is an important tool to achieve the educational aims and objectives. Curriculum is developed to fulfil the objectives in cognitive, affective and psychomotor domain. Also the intellectual, emotional, moral, social and professional development should be achieved through the curriculum. These objectives should be stated in the form of change in behaviour of the students. To bring about these behavioural changes, all types of the learning experiences are considered in the curriculum development process. The age, interest, maturity level etc. of the students are considered while arranging the learning experiences.

Curriculum should be Value Based and Life Oriented - It is important to inculcate various values through teaching of different subjects. Curriculum is to be developed to cultivate and develop the values like patriotism, punctuality, dignity of labour etc. There should also be a provision in the curriculum to teach how life can be lived happily.

Curriculum should Satisfy the Needs - It is necessary to impart education which can satisfy the needs of life. The needs of life are ever changing. The present day needs of students and the society, should be fulfilled through the curriculum. The curriculum should be framed according to the needs and the surrounding environment.

Curriculum should be Skill Oriented - Besides the content of various subjects, different skills should be included in the curriculum. There should be variety in the curriculum. The skills like self awareness, effective communication, problem solving, stress management etc. should be inculcated through various activities.

Curriculum should be Student Centred and Activity Centred - While developing the curriculum, the age group, interest, etc. of students should be considered. There should be provision of practical education along with bookish knowledge. Curriculum should include activity based programmes like experiments, projects, educational tours etc., in order to give enough scope for student activity.

Curriculum should Enrich Personality Development of an Individual - The bookish knowledge is not sufficient for all round development of a personality. In order to live the life happily and prosperously, curriculum should be developed according to the interest of the students. While developing the curriculum, the content and activity, various actions should be planned by considering all types of students, so that the students will be appreciated for their qualities. They can develop their hobbies and interests. For this purpose, the list of co-curricular activities and the guidelines for implementing these programs, should be given in the curriculum.

Curriculum should be Vocation Oriented - According to common people, the use of education is to become economically self reliant. Education is considered as a means of earning and to fulfil the practical needs. So curriculum should facilitate the livelyhood of students. Subjects of vocational education should be included in it.

Curriculum should be Flexible and Dynamic - The curriculum should be flexible and dynamic. There should be provision for change according to place, time and situation of social life, because there is a constant change in the knowledge and basic concepts of the subjects. In order that the student should not lag behind in the global competition, the curriculum should get changed accordingly.

Teacher's Note

In your school, you learn values like honesty and helping others through all subjects. You also learn practical skills like cooking or computers. This makes education complete and helpful for your life.

Exam Trick

Remember the 8 principles like this: Target, Values, Needs, Skills, Student-Centered, Personality, Vocation, Flexible. Each principle tells you how curriculum should be made better for students.

Points to Remember

Curriculum must have clear goals and objectives for students.
Values like honesty and hard work must be taught through curriculum.
Curriculum should meet the real needs of students and society.
Students must learn both knowledge and practical skills.
Curriculum should change with time and society needs.

Educational Evaluation

Measurement is a concept used in daily life. Measurement means to count. We do measurements of area, height, weight, distance, time, etc. We do measurements in daily life for various purpose, e.g., 3 meter cloth, 10 kg. onions, 2 litre milk, 4 hours study etc. There is a numeric expression in measurement. Accuracy and reliability are the characteristics of it. Measurement can be calculated in terms of multiple. Various units are used for various measurements.

Evaluation is one of the important concepts in education. Evaluation can be done of any educational or other activity. Measurement and evaluation are two different terms, but there is a correlation between them. Evaluation depends on measurement. By measurement we can get the answer of how much but by evaluation we get the answer of how good it is.

Evaluation is a systematic method to determine, to what extent educational objectives are achieved.

Teacher's Note

When your teacher gives you a test, that is measurement - you get marks. But evaluation is when your teacher sees if you understood the concept and gives you feedback like "your handwriting is neat" or "try to explain more".

Exam Trick

Remember: Measurement = Numbers (marks, height, weight). Evaluation = Quality feedback (how good, how well, suggestions). Demat = no paper - Evaluation = no numbers only.

Points to Remember

Measurement means counting or giving numbers like marks or height.
Evaluation means judging the quality and giving feedback.
Evaluation is more complete than measurement.
Both measurement and evaluation are needed in education.
Evaluation helps teachers improve their teaching.

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