Curriculum studies is a concentration within curriculum and instruction concerned with understanding curricula as an active force of human educational experience. It investigates the relationship between curriculum theory and educational practice in addition to the relationship between school programs, the contours of the society, and culture in which schools are located. Background Curriculum studies was created in 1930 and known as the first subdivision of the American Educational Research Association. It was originally created to be able to manage "the transition of the American secondary school from an elite preparatory school to a mass terminal secondary school" until the 1950s when "a preparation for college" became a larger concern. In 1970 the focus of curriculum studies shifted due to young activist beliefs in incorporating social and cultural aspects. The shift from developing and evaluating curriculum to understanding curriculum is known as the "Reconceptualization" of the curriculum field. Types of curricula A type of curriculum that focuses on how society transmits culture from generation to generation has been tagged with the term "hidden curriculum" For instance, one of the 19th century founders of the discipline of sociology, Émile Durkheim, observed that more is taught and learned in schools than specified in the established curriculum of textbooks and teacher manuals. This curriculum has "non-academic functions and effects" In Moral Education Durkheim wrote: Children obtain life skills like learning to wait quietly, exercising restraint, trying, completing work, keeping busy, cooperating, showing allegiance to both teachers and peers, being neat and punctual, and so on, A type of curriculum that focuses on a child's interests is called emergent curriculum Emergent curriculum has one main goal. That goal is to "create meaningful [learning opportunities] for children" based on those interests. This type of curriculum requires the instructor to consistently implicate certain task and skills for it to be used correctly. These tasks and skills are observations, documentations, creative brainstorming, flexibility, and patience. Observations- How does the student react? What was the outcome of using that particular strategy? Documentation- What do you see? Creative brainstorming- How can your students explore their topic of interest further? What are some potential activities? Flexibility and Patience- These aspects are needed because the curriculum is constantly undergoing change, growth, and development. Similar to above, this curriculum also has non- academic benefits. Emergent curriculum is "meant to be culturally responsive and inclusive in nature, so that all children are able to