Some Current Issues in Curriculum Studies Curriculum Studies - Session 7

What are the issues? Postmodern perspectives on curriculum Baccalaureates The holistic/whole/integrated curriculum Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Dealing with postmodernism “…play the game without rules, and from the very playing, to invent new rules.” “To get beyond Tyler and Taba is to suggest that we engage in a holistic approach to conceptualising the curriculum and its creation.” “It is much easier to indicate where we have been that to indicate where we are going.” Hunkins & Hammil, 1994 Curriculum Studies - Session 7

The new 4Rs Four criteria for postmodern curriculum development – the new 4Rs: Richness Recursion Relations Rigour Doll, 1993 Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Features of Doll’s model A transformative curriculum Promotion of higher order competence and learning to learn Encourages independence and self- organisation Change to teacher’s role to facilitator of learning Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Criticisms of Doll’s model Vague and unclear? Rhetorical? Impractical? Threatening? Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Characterising ‘Baccalaureates’ Breadth/depth (number of ‘subjects’/components, contrast/balance, assessment models, learning context, settings) Prescription/choice Inclusivity/exclusivity (level/demand, academic/vocational) Qualification/curriculum framework After Hodgson & Spours, 2009 Curriculum Studies - Session 7

‘Baccalaureates’ Range of different approaches: Self-contained (e.g. IBDP) ‘Container’/Portfolio (e.g. Welsh Bac) Curriculum Studies - Session 7

IB Diploma Programme Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Cambridge Pre-U Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Welsh Baccalaureate Curriculum Framework Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Structure Core Options Key Skills Wales, Europe and the World Work-related Education Personal and Social Education Curriculum Studies - Session 7 Options current qualifications (A/AS, VCE, GCSE, VGCSE, NVQ, BTEC)

Key Skills Communication Application of Number IT Working with Others Problem Solving Improving Own Learning and Performance Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Wales, Europe and the World discussion of political, social, economic and cultural factors (8 key issues) sets Wales in the broader context builds on existing language skills in either a MFL or Welsh Individual Investigation based on issue arising from Wales, Europe and World Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Work-related Education understanding of the world of work (all students will work with employers) importance of enterprise and entrepreneurship (all students will contribute to a team enterprise activity) contributes to careers education and guidance Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Personal and Social Education One key issue from each of four elements: positive relationships good health, including sexual health the rights and responsibilities of being an active citizen understanding development issues and education for sustainable development … plus Community Participation activity Curriculum Studies - Session 7

When is a Baccalaureate not a Baccalaureate? … … when it’s an EBacc! A performance measure of the percentage of students in a school who achieve GCSE grades A*-C in English, mathematics, two sciences, a foreign language and history or geography Not to be confused with English Baccalaureate Certificate (RIP!) or … Curriculum Studies - Session 7

European Baccalaureate Diploma awarded by the fourteen European Schools. A combination of 10-12 compulsory and optional subjects examined at ‘Year 13’ Used for University entrance. Is this a ‘baccalaureate’? Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Holistic education “It is more than the education of the whole student and addresses the very broadest development of the whole person at the cognitive and affective levels. It emphasizes the education of the student beyond the confines of the classroom and moves the concept of a child-centred educational approach to a much more radical programme of education.” Hare, 2010 Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Holistic education “At its most general level, what distinguishes holistic education from other forms of education are its goals, its attention to experiential learning, and the significance that it places on relationships and primary human values within the learning environment.” Miller, 2003 Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Contributing theories Rousseau Dewey Steiner Montessori Gardner Maslow Rogers Friere Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Implications Radical approaches to … … schooling? … curriculum? … pedagogy? … role of the ‘teacher’? Curriculum Studies - Session 7

Other issues Coherence/connection Progression and continuity Integration Matching learners’ needs 21st Century learning The curriculum for personalised learning/brain-based learning Globalisation/Internationalisation Curriculum Studies - Session 7