Curriculum Studies
Rationale
This unit is intended to raise the level of awareness and understanding of a series of issues related to the curriculum – particularly its specification, development, delivery and evaluation.
It is equally applicable to teachers of all age ranges of students and focuses on generic, rather than subject-specific, issues.
An important intention is that students will be made aware of the underpinning educational and socio-political principles which influence the shape of the curriculum and be able to engage critically with debates about how the curriculum should be defined and taught.
Unit aims
• to examine the concept of ‘curriculum’ and different approaches to defining, teaching, assessing and evaluating it;
• to recognise the relationship between the formal and informal aspects of curriculum;
• to consider the curriculum from a number of different stakeholders’ perspectives and appreciate the dynamics involved;
• to gain some insight into how curriculum development takes place and into approaches to curriculum continuity and progression.
Learning outcomes
• present different definitions of ‘curriculum’ and understand how the academic, pastoral and hidden
• explain how the curriculum can be seen from the perspectives of different stakeholders and within different cultural and socio-political settings;
• examine different models for the curriculum from national approaches to the role of non-governmental organisations;
• show an understanding of the role of the teacher in curriculum development and implementation;