It is not only a traditional view to regard the essence of curriculum as knowledge, but also a representative and universal view in China at present. The basic idea of this view is that the main task of the course is to enable students to acquire knowledge. Curriculum is equivalent to knowledge, and knowledge is classified according to disciplines. Therefore, another expression of this definition is "curriculum is a subject". This is also a common sense curriculum view, deeply rooted in the daily practice of schools and people's minds.

2. Course is experience.

This curriculum definition regards curriculum as the experience or experience that students get under the guidance of teachers and the experience or experience that students get spontaneously. It is produced and formed on the basis of criticizing and reflecting on the former viewpoint. Dewey systematized and theorized this view and put it into practice.