What does curricular focus mean?

Curricular focus refers to the central themes, topics, skills, or knowledge areas that a curriculum prioritizes and emphasizes. It's essentially the core message or intention behind the educational program. It guides the selection of content, teaching methods, and assessment strategies. A curriculum can have a broad focus or a very narrow one, depending on the goals.

For example:

* A curriculum with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics): This would prioritize scientific inquiry, technological literacy, engineering design, and mathematical reasoning in all subject areas. The selection of courses, projects, and activities would reflect this emphasis.

* A curriculum with a focus on critical thinking: This would prioritize developing students' abilities to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and form reasoned judgments. Activities and assessments would be designed to cultivate these skills across various subjects.

* A curriculum with a focus on social-emotional learning (SEL): This prioritizes the development of students' self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

In short, the curricular focus provides a framework for understanding the overarching purpose and direction of an educational program. It helps to ensure coherence and alignment across different aspects of the curriculum.