Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction

The most important guide for anyone working on curriculum development

Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction has been the standard in the field for decades, and it continues to be the leading guide to curriculum development today. Ralph W. Tyler presents here the concept that curriculum should be dynamic, a program under constant evaluation and revision. Before the publication of this book, curriculum had generally been thought of as a static, set program, and in an era preoccupied with student testing, he offered the innovative idea that teachers and administrators should spend as much time evaluating their plans as they do assessing their students.

Although not a strict how-to guide, the book shows how educators can critically approach curriculum planning, studying progress and retooling when needed. Its four sections focus on setting objectives, selecting learning experiences, organizing instruction, and evaluating progress. Readers will come away with a firm understanding of how to formulate educational objectives and how to analyze and adjust their plans so that students meet the objectives. Tyler also explains that curriculum planning is a continuous, cyclical process, an instrument of education that needs to be fine-tuned.

This emphasis on thoughtful evaluation has kept Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction a relevant, trusted companion for decades. Even as the educational landscape changes and teachers and administrators have to adjust to new developments in testing, student engagement, regulation, and more, the core principles animating this book remain as valid and effective as ever.  And with school districts across the nation working to align their curriculum with Common Core standards, Tyler's straightforward recommendations are sound and effective tools for educators working to create a curriculum that integrates national objectives with their students' needs.

Ralph W. Tyler (1902–94) was professor of education and dean of the Division of the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago. He also served as founding director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and chaired the committee that eventually developed the National Assessment of Educational Progress.