HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CENTRE

Certificate in Higher and Tertiary Education (Cert HTE)

TEC401: Curriculum Issues in Higher Education

Course Outline

1.0 Introduction

The course is a two-credit module taught in the second semester of the second academic
year. It focuses on a basic introduction to curriculum issues in higher education with
specific reference to such components of the curriculum as planning and design,
development, implementation and evaluation. Major themes are issues of curriculum
relevance in a rapidly changing technological environment and limited resources.

2.0 Course Description/Synopsis

The application of basic principles of curriculum design development and evaluation of

programmes of study are major areas of focus. In particular a deliberate slant to the
course is demonstration of the cyclical relationship between the components of a
programme of study e.g. objectives and assessment.

Curriculum determinants and models, curriculum research and development, curriculum

change and innovation through evaluation constitute a basic treatment of subject with an
extensive scope.

3.0 Course Objectives

It is hoped that by the end of the course the candidates should be able to:
3.1 Apply principles of curriculum design, development and evaluation to a
programme of study in higher education;
3.2 Critique models of curriculum development such as the Tyler, Lawton or
Wheeler models against practical local experience;
3.3 Justify strategies of curriculum research and development used to bring about
curriculum change and innovation;
3.4 Use formative and summative evaluation as tools for decision making about
curriculum change and innovation;
3.5 Identify curriculum determinants emanating from the environment and from
disciplines of education.

4.0 Course Content (All topics are with reference to Higher and Tertiary Education)
4.1 Concepts of curriculum
 - The meaning of curriculum from various perspectives
4.2 Curriculum determinants
4.3 Types of curriculum
- Different types of curricula
4.4 Curriculum planning and design
4.5 Curriculum development
4.6 Curriculum implementation
- Factors that enhance or hinder curriculum implementation
- Role of the educator in curriculum implementation
4.6 Models of curriculum development
- The objectives model (e.g. Tyler, 1949)
- Wheeler’s model
- The process model (e.g. Stenhouse, 1975)
- Cultural analysis model and other models (e.g. Lawton, 1975)
4.7 Curriculum change and innovation
4.7. 1 Models of curriculum change and innovation
e.g. - Research, development and diffusion model
- Social interaction model
- Problem solving model
- Linkage model

4.7.2 Strategies for curriculum change and innovation

e.g. - Power coercive strategy
- Rational- empirical strategy
- Normative re-educative strategy

4.8 Curriculum Evaluation

4.8.1 Definitions / conceptions of curriculum evaluation
4.8.2 Types of evaluation
- Summative evaluation
- Formative evaluation
4.8.3 Models of curriculum evaluation
e.g. - Tyler’s Objectives-Centered Model
- Stufflebeam’s CIPP model
- Stake’s countenance model
- Scriven’s Goal-Free model
- Eisner’s connoisseurship model.
4.8.3 Evaluation of curriculum projects and programmes in higher and
tertiary education

5.0 Course Delivery Approaches

5.1 Interactive lectures
5.2 Individual, pair or small group researches (in preparation of seminars)
5.3 Seminar presentations
5.4 Practical exercises for applying concepts
 6.0 Assessment
6.1 Assignments: At least two written assignments (25%)
6.2 Written final examination paper (75%)
6.3 To pass the course, candidates should obtain 50% or better in the coursework
and examination combined.

References
Unesco (2005) Guide to Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Module 3

O’Neill, G. (2015). Curriculum Design in Higher Education:

Theory to Practice, Dublin: UCD Teaching & Learning. ISBN 9781905254989
http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/UCDTLP0068.pdf.
Zayapragassarazan , Z. (2015). Curriculum Development in Higher Education. Department of
Medical Education JIPMER Puducherry-605006. ***

Papakitsos, E. C. (2016). The Application of Systems Methodology to Curriculum

Development in Higher Education. Higher Education Research. Vol. 1, No. 1, 2016, pp.
1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.her.20160101.11

https://www.academia.edu/38821461/Curriculum_Development_Full_Book_

https://www.uet.edu.pk/export/sites/UETWebPortal/qec/qec_intro/downloads/Curriculu
m_Development.pdf ***
https://faculty.londondeanery.ac.uk/e-learning/setting-learning-
objectives/Curriculum_design_and_development.pdf ***
https://www.unom.ac.in/asc/Pdf/CURRICULUM%20DESIGN%20AND
%20DEVELOPMENT-1.pdf ***
https://portal.sriramachandra.edu.in/Documents/Prof%20P%20V%20V.pdf ***
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED413439.pdf ***