What does the term "hidden curriculum" refer to?

The term "hidden curriculum" refers to the implicit values, behaviors, and social norms that students learn in an educational setting, which are not part of the formal curriculum. This includes things like social skills, attitudes towards authority, or cultural expectations that are conveyed through the school environment, interactions with peers and teachers, and the school's overall culture.

For example, in addition to academic content, students may learn the importance of punctuality, teamwork, and competition simply by participating in the school environment. These lessons are not explicitly taught but are absorbed through everyday experiences. This concept highlights how education extends beyond just the academic subjects outlined in the curriculum, shaping students’ perceptions and behaviors in significant ways.

Other options focus on aspects of education that are more overtly defined or structured, such as formal methods of teaching, specific knowledge acquisition, or standardized metrics for assessing learning outcomes, which do not encompass the nuanced, often unspoken aspects of learning encompassed by the hidden curriculum.