DECKER WALKER'S

NATURALISTIC
MODEL (1971)

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

Characteristics
Process
Strengths
Weaknesses

WHAT IS THE NATURALISTIC MODEL?

It is also called the communicative approach.
Starts with the more subjective perceptions and
views of the designers, the target group, and
other stakeholders.
The term naturalistic describes how curriculum
was actually developed instead of suggesting how
it should be done
Walker suggests that better curriculum planning
and development will result if persons
participated in the process and reached a
consensus about the final product.

Figure 1: Walkers Model (Print, 1993, p 75)

PROCESS OF THE MODEL

Figure 1: Walkers Model (Print, 1993,

p.75)

ADVANTAGES
One of the strengths of Walkers model is the input of
curriculum developers , target group, and other
parties/stakeholders in the development of the
curriculum.
Stakeholder engagement in the planning and
development stages empowers and acknowledges them,
especially teachers, as valuable contributors.
broad social support that the intended product will have;
after all, users and other parties involved were given
ample opportunity to contribute

DISADVANTAGES
Walker describes what happens in the process of
curriculum design but does not describe what actually
happens in the classroom.
The processes for deliberation can be time consuming
and resource intensive, and can result in curriculum
products that may not be consistent and aligned
internally.
Consensus is often hard to achieve when developing
curriculum at regional levels.

REFERENCES

Alberta Education. (2012). Curriculum development processes,

from knowledge to action. Retrieved from
http://www.education.alberta.ca/media/6809242/d_chapter1.p
df
Walker, D. (1971). A naturalistic model for curriculum
development,School Review, 80(1), 51-65.