What is the Difference Between Curriculum and Instruction?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between curriculum and instruction lies in their purpose and implementation:
- Curriculum refers to the content, learning goals, outcomes, standards, and benchmarks that students are expected to learn in a course or program. It encompasses the subjects and material taught in a school, and it is designed to ensure that students gain specific knowledge and skills. Curriculum is based on extensive educational research, state and local educational standards, and the type of school.
- Instruction refers to the methods and strategies used to teach the material in the curriculum. It is the way teachers deliver the curriculum to the students, and it focuses on the "how" of teaching. Instruction can be tailored to accommodate different learning styles and needs, and it can be individualized to meet the unique requirements of each student.
In summary, curriculum is what is taught, while instruction is how it is taught. Both components are essential for creating an effective and well-rounded educational experience for students.
Comparative Table: Curriculum vs Instruction
Here is a table that highlights the differences between curriculum and instruction:
| Feature | Curriculum | Instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The curriculum refers to the course content, learning materials, and learning standards that students are expected to learn. | Instruction refers to the teaching methods, strategies, and learning activities used by teachers to help students achieve the learning objectives. |
| Focus | The curriculum focuses on what students should know, understand, and be able to do as a result of their education. | Instruction focuses on how students will learn, including the teaching approaches, resources, and assessments used to support learning. |
| Development | Curriculum is typically developed by education experts, committees, or organizations to outline the learning objectives and content for a specific subject or grade level. | Instruction is usually developed by individual teachers or instructional designers to create lesson plans, learning activities, and assessments that align with the curriculum. |
| Alignment | Curriculum, instruction, and assessment should be aligned and integrated with each other, and directed toward the same goal. |
In summary, the curriculum outlines the learning objectives and content that students are expected to learn, while instruction involves the teaching methods and learning activities used by teachers to help students achieve the learning objectives. Both curriculum and instruction are essential components of a successful educational experience, and they should be aligned and integrated to ensure that students can effectively learn and demonstrate their understanding of the content.
- Curriculum vs Program
- Syllabus vs Curriculum
- Curriculum vs Scheme of Work
- Teaching vs Learning
- Instructional Objectives vs Learning Objectives
- Teacher vs Instructor
- Education vs Indoctrination
- Procedure vs Work Instruction
- Unit Plan vs Lesson Plan
- Teaching Methods vs Teaching Strategies
- Directions vs Instructions
- Education vs Learning
- Instructor vs Trainer
- Teaching vs Training
- CV (Curriculum vitae) vs Resume
- School vs Education
- Education vs Training
- Instructor vs Professor
- Educator vs Teacher