Advances in Curriculum Development

1. The Eclectic
Pragmatic
Approach
ADVANCES IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
LEDELYN A. CONTANTE
and
PhD-DevEd Student

2. OUTLINE OF
DISCUSSION
Eclectic Approach: Definition
ADVANCES IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Importance of Eclectic Approach
Advantages of Eclectic Approach
Drawbacks of Eclectic Approach
Conclusion
ECLECTIC APPROACH
PRAGMATIC APPROACH
Pragmatic Approach: Definition
Pragmatism in Education
Pragmatism and Curriculum
Contribution of Pragmatism
Principles of Pragmatism

3. It is a combination of different methods
and techniques of teaching, which
create a suitable environment for
achieving the objectives with respect to
the students’ needs.
ECLECTIC APPROACH
A teaching approach that advocates the
freedom of the teachers in order to
choose different teaching methods and
strategies for achieving the learning
goals.

4. It has been derived from the verb root
“elect”. To elect means to choose and
pick up. The good ideas, concepts, and
principles from various schools of
thought have been chosen, picked up
and blended together to make a
complete philosophy.
ECLECTIC APPROACH

5. It is a conceptual approach that does
not hold rigidly to a single paradigm
or set of assumptions, but instead
draws upon multiple theories, styles,
or ideas to gain complementary
insights into a subject, or applies
different theories in particular cases.
ECLECTIC APPROACH

6. IMPORTANCE OF ECLECTIC APPROACH
IN EDUCATION
Idealism is famous for its high and lofty aims of education,
pragmatism is famous for its brilliant principles and curriculum,
naturalism is for its method of education. No philosophy is full-
fledged to provide all things. But we want an integral education for
complete living. If we synthesis all good ideas and principles with
the best materials of all these philosophies we have to adopt an
eclectic approach by harmonizing the conflicting ideologies and
blend them together.

7. ADVANTAGES
This approach is broad and may include every kind of learning
activity and saves learners from monotony.
OF ECLECTIC APPROACH
It is more appropriate for Pre School learning but not less beneficial in
the classrooms.
It is helpful in all kinds of skills in stimulating a creative environment
and gives confidence to the learners.
In this approach, children discover and instill good ways of learning.

8. ADVANTAGES OF ECLECTIC APPROACH
Above all this approach gives a chance to our common sense to
mold and shape our method according to the circumstances and
available materials of teaching aids.

9. DRAWBACKS OF ECLECTIC APPROACH
There may be gaps in learning if you are frequently switching
curriculum. This approach can lack disciplined learning and allow
for laziness. Without grabbing into one approach, curriculum choices
and overall directions can be confusing and overwhelming.

10. CONCLUSION
The conception of education today is very broad and that our
educational thinking in its totality has been affected not by one
single philosophical thought or tendency but by the cumulative
experience of past generations in the field of education. Our
educational ideals and practices may consequently be traced to
various sources all of which have been harmoniously blended to
determine the present-day educational principles and practices.

11. The word Pragmatism is of Greek origin
(pragma, matos = deed, from prassein =
to do).
PRAGMATIC APPROACH
It is the product of practical
experiences of life.
Pragmatism means action, from which
the words practical and practice have
come.
The pragmatist lays down standards
that are attainable. Pragmatists are
practical people.

12. The emphasis of pragmatism is on
action rather than on thought.
Thought is subordinated to action.
It is made an instrument to find
suitable means for action. That is
why pragmatism is also called
Instrumentalism. Ideas are tools.
Thought enlarges its scope and
usefulness by testing itself on
practical issues.
PRAGMATIC APPROACH

13. PRAGMATISM
In the present world pragmatism has influenced education
tremendously. It is a practical and utilitarian philosophy. It makes
activity the basis of all teaching and learning. It is activity around
which an educational process revolves.
in Education
It makes learning purposeful and infuses a sense of reality in education. It
makes schools into workshops and laboratories. It gives an experimental
character to education. Pragmatism makes man optimistic, energetic and
active. It gives him self-confidence. The child creates values through his
own activities.

14. PRAGMATISM
Education is preparation for life. Pragmatism makes a man socially
efficient. The pragmatists are of the opinion that the children should-not be
asked to work according to predetermined goals. They should determine
their goals according to their needs and interests.
in Education
Learning takes place as an interaction between the teacher and the taught. While
idealism gives first place to the teacher, pragmatism gives the first place to the
taught. Similarly, between thought and action, they give first place to action. The
pragmatists decry verbalism and encourage action. Today pragmatism occupies
the most dominant place in the United States of America.

15. PRAGMATISM
The aims of education are reflected in the curriculum. The pragmatic aims
can only be reflected in a pragmatic curriculum. The curriculum should be
framed on the basis of certain basic principles. These are utility, interest,
experience and integration. Practical utility is the watchword of pragmatism.
Hence those subjects, which have utility to the students should be included in the
curriculum. The subjects which carry occupational or vocational utility should find
a place in the curriculum. Language, hygiene, history, geography, physics,
mathematics, sciences, domestic science for girls, agriculture for boys should be
incorporated in the curriculum.
CURRICULUM
and

16. PRAGMATISM
While deciding the subjects of curriculum the nature of
the child, his tendencies, interests, impulses at the
various stages of his growth and multiple activities of
daily life should be taken into consideration. The subjects
like psychology and sociology — which deal with human
behaviour — should be included in the curriculum.
CURRICULUM
and

17. PRAGMATISM
The pragmatists advocate that the learners should not be
taught dead facts and theories because these may not
help them to solve the problems of life. The subjects
which help to solve the practical problems of life should
be included in the school curriculum, particularly at the
elementary stage.
CURRICULUM
and

18. PRAGMATISM
The pragmatists believe in the unity of all knowledge and
skill. They prefer to give integrated knowledge round a
particular problem of life. They do not like to divide subjects
of instructions into water-tight compartments. Life is the
subject matter of instruction. Its various problems studied in
complete perspective are fit subjects of instruction.
CURRICULUM
and

19. CONTRIBUTION
Pragmatism has immensely contributed to the
theory and practice of education. It is not only a
practical philosophy but also a progressive one. It
conceives education as a dynamic and life-long
process.
of PRAGMATISM

20. CONTRIBUTION
Man always creates new values and education should
help him in doing so. Pragmatism is not based on fixed
values. It is a dynamic and adaptable social philosophy.
Learning is true and real only when it comes through
doing. Project method is an activity method. It develops
sociability in students. It also generates a sense of
cooperation among them.
of PRAGMATISM

21. Principles of Pragmatism
PRINCIPLE OF
UTILITY
This means that everything should
be useful to the student. A student
doesn’t care for learning abstract
theoretical ideas that they will
never apply to their lives outside
of school. Instead, a student wants
to learn things that are relevant to
their lives. By making things
relevant and useful, students will
be more engaged and eager to
learn.
Everything that students learn
should have utility.
PRINCIPLE OF
INTEREST
Curriculum content should also
include the students’ interests.
Dewey (a key pragmatist theorist)
argues that students have four
interests: conversation,
investigation, construction, and
creative expression.
Therefore, teachers should focus
on creating lessons that involve
talking with one another,
investigating things through
experimentation, making things,
and being creative.
PRINCIPLE OF
EXPERIENCE
Pragmatists value experience
over all else.
Students can learn abstract
things all day, but unless they
experience those things, they
may never truly learn.
Teachers should therefore
create a lot of project-
based, experimental and
experiential lessons that help
children ‘learn by doing’.
PRINCIPLE OF
INTEGRATION
Curriculum content is not
separate.
Mathematics, science and creative
arts are not three different lessons.
Instead, the pragmatic teacher links
the curriculum content together
through a process we call
‘integration’. The teacher will show
students how concepts from
different subjects are related to
each other and encourage a
holistic understanding of the topics
they are learning.

22. REFERENCES:
The 4 Principles Of Pragmatism In Education
https://helpfulprofessor.com/pragmatism-in-education/
Pragmatism and its Contribution to Education
https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2003258.pdf
Pragmatism in Education: Study Notes
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/pragmatism-in-education-study-
notes/69152
Principles of the Eclectic Approach
https://www.professorjackrichards.com/principles-of-the-eclectic-approach/
Importance of Eclectic Approach in Education
https://educational-system.blogspot.com/2013/01/importance-of-electic-approach-
in.html

23. THOUGHT TO PONDER:
Education is all matter of
building bridges.
Ralph Ellison

24. Thank you!