The impact of curriculum on student’s learning research

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of curriculum design on student learning outcomes in secondary education in Jordan, an area that has seen limited research amidst ongoing curriculum reforms. Involving 158 teachers from both public and private schools in Amman, the research assessed five curriculum components, objectives, content, teaching methods, assessment, and flexibility, alongside four indicators of student learning: knowledge acquisition, motivation, critical thinking, and application skills. The findings revealed a strong reliability of the survey instrument and indicated a significant positive correlation between curriculum dimensions and student outcomes, with correlations ranging from r = 0.49 to r = 0.65 (p < 0.01). Notably, instructional methods showed the highest correlation with student engagement. The analysis demonstrated that curriculum components accounted for 69% of the variance in student learning outcomes, with effective instructional strategies having the most substantial impact. The results suggest that successful curriculum implementation in Jordan hinges on integrated and flexible designs that align goals, delivery, and assessment. The study has aims for prioritizing active learning strategies in future curriculum reform efforts for enhancing meaningful educational achievements at the secondary level.