THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF ZANZIBAR

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INSTRUCTION AND
LEADERSHIP (DEFIL)
DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
YEAR OF STUDY: FIRST YEAR SEMESTER 1
COURSE CODE: DEC 0114.
COURSE TITLE: ANALYSIS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
CURRICULUM

Course Description
Curriculum Development in Early Childhood Education is a compulsory course for the Diploma
in Early Childhood Education which is intended to equip the learners with knowledge and skills
in the area of curriculum development and evaluation of early childhood education. The course
will develop student teachers’ basic skills in analyzing, reflecting and applying curriculum in
Early Childhood education. It is a discipline that covers topics related to curriculum development
theory and practice. This course is meant to be task-based and therefore, students will be
engaged in seminar presentations, group discussion, as well as in the production of a meaningful
written assignment.

Course Aim
The aim of this course is to enable students to explain, interpret and assess different curriculum
concepts/patterns.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Apply the basic knowledge of curriculum to their daily teaching practice in ECE Classes.
2. Use ECE curriculum theory and approaches in planning, developing and implementing
curriculum.

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 3. Analyze the ECE syllabus, textbook, teacher’s guide, manual and module for effective
teaching and learning process in their teaching career.
4. Prepare, design and choose appropriate and useful teaching and learning materials for
effective teaching in ECE classes.

COURSE CONTENT
Weeks 1& 2 (6 hrs): Curriculum Theory
 The Concept of Curriculum
 Importance of curriculum
 Types of Curricula
 ECE Curriculum
 Covert curriculum in Early Childhood Education Classes

Weeks 3 & 4: (6 hrs): ECE Curriculum Components

 The curriculum aims, goals and objectives
 ECE Curriculum content
 ECE Curriculum materials
 ECE Curriculum methods/strategies
 Curriculum Evaluation

Week 5 & 6 (6 hrs): Curriculum Development

 The Concept of Curriculum Development
 Curriculum Development Models (Tyler, Taba, Wheeler & Kerr)
 Factors affecting curriculum development

Week 7, 8 & 9 (9 hrs): ECE Curriculum Approaches

1. Experiential Approach
 Guiding principles
 Content
 Teachers roles

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  Learning activities
 Materials
 Assessments
 Etc

2. The High/Scope Approach

 Guiding principles
 Content
 Teachers roles
 Learning activities
 Materials
 Assessments
 Etc

3. The Reggio Emilia Approach

 Guiding principles
 Content
 Teachers roles
 Learning activities
 Materials
 Assessments
 Etc

4. The Montessori Approach

 Guiding principles
 Content
 Teachers roles
 Learning activities
 Materials
 Assessments

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  Etc

5. The Bank Street Approach

 Guiding principles
 Content
 Teachers roles
 Learning activities
 Materials
 Assessments
 Etc

Week 10 & 11(6 hrs): ECE Curriculum Materials

• Components of ECE curriculum materials
• Characteristics and importance of curriculum materials
 The Syllabus
 The Teachers’ Guide
 The Textbook
 Supplementary Curriculum Materials
 Instructional Media

Week 12: (3 hrs) ECE Curriculum Evaluation

 Concept of curriculum evaluation
 Importance and uses of curriculum evaluation in ECE settings
 Models of ECE curriculum evaluation

Week 13 & 14: Assessment and Evaluation of Zanzibar ECE Curriculum

Week 15: Revision and Feedback.

Weeks 16 & 17: University Examinations

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METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Lectures
 Group discussions
 Seminar presentations
 Guest speaker

ASSESSMENT METHODS
Course work 40%:
 Test ( I & II) 20%
 Seminar 10%
 Project 10%
University Examination 60%
Total 100%

READING LIST
Anaheim, CA & Hooper, R. (Ed) (1983). The Curriculum Context, Design and Development.
Open University Press: Great Britain.
Arends , R. (1998): Learning to Teach. McGraw Hill: New York
Bruner, J. (1960): The Process of Education. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Chattin-McNichols, J. (1992). The Montessori controversy. New York: Delmar.Dana, N. T. &
Westcott, L. (1995). Training opportunities for prospective elementary and early
childhood teacher reflection, stimulations, teaching cases, portfolios, and more. Paper
presented at the annual meeting at the association of teacher education. St. Louis, MO.
Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (1993). The Hundred Languages of Children: The
Reggio Emilia approach to Early Childhood Education. New Jersey: Ablex Publishing
Corporation.
Evans, J. L., Myers, R. G., & Ilfeld, E. M. (2000). Early Childhood Counts: A programming
guide on Early Childhood Care for Development. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
Evans, E. (1971). Contemporary influences in early childhood education. New York: Holt,
Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.

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Forman, G. (November, 1993). How are children’s cognitive development affected by the
Reggio Emilia approach? Speech presented at the annual meeting at the National
Association for the Education of Young Children.

Goffin, S., & Wilson, C. (2001). Curriculum models and early childhood education appraising
the relationships. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Kelly, A. (1972). Planning the School Curriculum. UNESCO IIEP: Paris.

Kostelnik, M. Soderman, A., & Whiren, A. (1999). Developmentally appropriate curriculum

best practices in early childhood education. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Lewy, A. (1989). The Curriculum Theory and Practices. Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd: London.

Mbise, A.S. (2002). Early Childhood Simulation and Learning Initiatives: Experiences from
Tanzania. Research Report

Mhaiki, O. P. & Katunzi, N. B (2003). Curriculum Issues in Early Childhood Development: The
case of Tanzania. In Tanzania Education Journal. No. 21.

Roopnarine, J. & Johnson, J. (1993). Approaches to early childhood education.NY: Macmillan

Publishing Company.

Video Resources

Forman, G.E. & Gandini, L. (1991). The Long Jump: A video Analyses of small group projects in
early education practice in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Performanetic Press, 19, The Hollow, Amherst,
MA.

Forman, G.E. & Gandini, L. (1994). An Amusement Park for Birds.Performanetic Press, 19, The
Hollow, Amherst, MA.

Website Resources

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www.montessori-ami.org
www.americanmontessorisociety.org
www.highscope.org/