ECTS: 6 per Semester
Description
This module examines the practices of curriculum making, in order to compare and contrast approaches across organisations and subject areas. This will illuminate the factors and their interrelationships within cultures of curriculum making and the experience of students at a time when reform of the curriculum and qualifications is high on the political agenda. Initiatives, such as A Curriculum for Excellence, Assessment is for Learning, and the review of several national curriculums have placed a greater emphasis on issues surrounding curriculum and pedagogy.
Aims
The aim of this module is to provide the student with
a critical understanding of the nature of the curriculum, its design, development and innovation as the central instrument of the educational system.
It also includes knowledge about the obstacles that have educational innovation, as well as explore a range of international examples curriculum innovation and their problems.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Acquire solid knowledge of curriculum making.
Acquire knowledge about the innovative capacity of educational institutions.
Acquire knowledge about the obstacles to educational innovation and curriculum making.
Acquire knowledge about specific examples of design, development and innovation of the curriculum and teaching at international level.
Syllabus indicative content
1. Meanings of curriculum.
2. Types of curriculum.
3. Cultural, political and other influences on the curriculum.
4. Participation and change in curriculum.
5. Curriculum innovation.
Assessment
Reading and comment texts (weighting) 60%
Participation 40%
Reading list
Gardner, H. (2007). Five Minds for the Future. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.
Hargreaves, A.; Lieberman, A.; Fullan, M. & Hopkins, D. (2005). International Handbook of Educational Change. Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Jeffs, T. J. and Smith, M. K. (1999). Informal Education. Conversation, democracy and learning, Ticknall, Education Now.
Kelly, A. V. (1983; 1999). The Curriculum. Theory and practice 4e. London, Paul Chapman.
Pink, Daniel. (2006). A Whole New Mind. New York: Riverhead.
Sternberg, Robert J. (2007). Wisdom, Intelligence, and Creativity Synthesized. Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-curric.htm
http://www.queensu.ca/ctl/goodpractice/curriculumdevelopment/curriculum/development.html
http://www.coe.fau.edu/faculty/kizlik/f2003curr/curricref.htm