Spiral curriculum
In *The Process of Education* (1960), Jerome Bruner proposed that core ideas of a discipline can be taught early in an honest form and revisited at greater depth in later years. He described enactive, iconic and symbolic modes of representation. Key features: repetition across grades, increasing complexity, and building on prior learning. It pairs well with discovery learning, though critics note risks of mere repetition.
Frequently asked questions
- Who proposed it?
- Jerome Bruner (1960).
- How is it different from repetition?
- Each revisit adds depth and complexity.
References
- Bruner, J. S. (1960). The process of education. Harvard University Press.
- Harden, R. M. (1999). What is a spiral curriculum? Medical Teacher, 21(2), 141–143.