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 |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
none |
School/department | School of Education |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
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:
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.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate:
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.
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%)
Alexander, R. (2008) Towards Dialogic Teaching: Rethinking Classroom Talk (4th edition) Diagolos
Craft, A., Gardner H. & Claxton, G. (eds)(2007) Creativity, Wisdom and Trusteeship: Exploring the Role of Education, Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press
DfE (2014) The National Curriculum in England: Framework document
Kelly, AV. (2009) The Curriculum: Theory and Practice London: Sage
Lefstein, A. & Snell, J. (2013) Better than Best Practice: Developing Teaching and Learning through Dialogue [available at: http://dialogicpedagogy.com/]
McCallum, A. (2012) Creativity and Learning in Secondary English Abingdon: Routledge
Mooney, CG. (2013, 2nd Ed.) Theories of Childhood: An introduction to Dewey, Montesorri, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky, St Paul: Redleaf Press