Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction

This book celebrates its 60th birthday this year but it's difficult to top it for the most straightforward, comprehensive overview of the curriculum process. There are few curriculum writers or decision makers that don't follow the methods advocated by Tyler, in part if not in whole. The style is clear and easy to read, and furthermore, as one reads through, one realises that Tyler was advocating other developments like outcomes and standards years before they became (in)famous and incorporated in edu-speak. The best modern book on curriculum is by John Biggs ("Teaching for quality learning at university") and he pays tribute to the influence of Tyler's book on his own work. Unfortunately Tyler's is one of those books that everyone has read ABOUT but few have actually read. Do read it - it has pearls of wisdoms for today's educationalists or for anyone interested in schools and what they do, and it is only 128 pages long!

This book is a must-read for anyone in the teaching profession. It's simple and straightforward to understand.

I had to read this book in my doctoral program. The assignment after reading the book was to graphically represent the work in some way. That was the greatest help in me remembering the basic premise of Tyler's work and what I could do with what I learned by reading the book. Basically the teacher, looking at the needs of her/his learners is responsible for curriculum development. Basing choices on competing philosophies and strategies, the learner is always the one under the magnifying glass in the process. The ideas and instruction found in the book really empower the teacher to take charge of the process. I have used the ideas in this book in leading the Christian education programs in the churches I have served. It's well worth the read. And when you're done, graphically summarize it so you don't forget what you learned as well.

Even though this book was written and published a half a century ago, the basic principals of curriculum design are clearly the same. This book is to the point, clear, and quite accurate in my opinion. For anyone serious about curriculum design, it is a required read.

This last review is an illustration of exactly what is wrong with so many educators. Imagine someone so narrow-minded they can't get past the style of writing that they most prefer in order to understand the ideas behind the writing. This book likely did a great deal to counteract the design of curricula based on the kind of traditionalists who would focus exclusively on "commas in the wrong place". BTW, there are few if any grammar or mechanical errors in the book, and Tyler certainly didn't do the jacket design.