Unit information: Curriculum Design for Learning in 2022/23

Unit name	Curriculum Design for Learning
Unit code	EDUC20001
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Smith
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	none
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

This unit will explore the main ideas behind curriculum theory and design, showing how they relate to learning theory and its application in different contexts. Students will consider how curriculum frameworks structure what is to be taught to whom, and how educators introduce key themes as part of a wider curriculum, paying attention to learners’ prior knowledge. They will also examine the development of different pedagogical approaches in a range of curriculum contexts, and assess how they can be used to develop reflective thinking in specific knowledge domains. Students will experience, and have opportunities to critically reflect upon, a variety of pedagogical approaches throughout the unit.

The aims of the unit are to:

• introduce students to the key ideas within curriculum theory (the values that underpin a curriculum and its wider purposes) and curriculum design (what should we teach to whom, and how should we structure the experience);
• enable students to develop their knowledge of different learning theories (e.g., Vygotsky, Alexander) and theories of creativity;
• develop students’ appreciation of how the key theories behind curriculum and learning translate into the realities of pedagogic practice in different contexts and what this might mean for teaching and learning a specific subject in, for example, a school setting.

Although the unit is part of the BSc Education Studies programme it is also suitable for undergraduate students following other degrees who are considering a career in teaching and wish to explore some of the issues involved in teaching and learning subject knowledge in school. It is therefore offered as an open unit.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate:

1. a critical understanding of the key ideas behind curriculum theory, curriculum design and learning theory;
2. an appreciation of some of the issues that arise in translating a curriculum into classroom practices;
3. the ability to critically reflect on their own experiences as a learner and to analyse these experiences using their knowledge of pedagogy and its relationship to a given curriculum framework.

How you will learn

Classes will involve a combination of lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, debates and group presentations. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis.

How you will be assessed

Formative assessment: students will design a poster and, through group presentation, explain the values that underpin it and the choice of pedagogic strategy they have made, submitting an individually annotated version for tutor feedback.

Summative assessment will be:

A) ILO 1-3 : 1,000 word summary based on the poster presentation. (35%)

b) ILO 1-3 : 2,000 word essay reflecting on their learning experiences to date on the programme and linking them to their readings for the unit. (65%)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EDUC20001).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.