The three forms of curriculum

It is important to note what is meant by curriculum. It is a student’s journey at a higher education institution through:

The formal curriculum: the courses, training, assessment and learning activities students participate in, as well as the knowledge and skills intentionally taught to students (intra-curricular). This is the curriculum that is documented in course syllabus and descriptions;

The informal curriculum: the learning experiences from other agencies outside the formal setting, such as student-led initiatives, student support services, social and educational activities, etc. They are extra-curricular;

The hidden curriculum: the processes, pressures and constraints that fall outside the formal and informal curricula, and which are often un-articulated and unexplored. They are the unspoken or implicit academic, social, and cultural messages that are communicated to students.

Forming learning outcomes