1. Unit 3: Designing for deep learning
The Year of the Curriculum
How shall we organise learning?
The programme consists of four modules, each with two units:
What are we trying to achieve?
How shall we organise learning?
How shall we evaluate success?
How do we make it happen?
Module 2
Unit 3: Designing for deep learning
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2. © Curriculum Foundation
Welcome to Unit 3.
Did you come up with a list of competencies for your school?
Were stakeholders helpful in this? Did you use the ‘stick person’ activity?
Is your list similar to the ones we looked at in Unit 2? Do you want to share it? You can do so at
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3. © Curriculum Foundation
Unit 3
Designing for deep learning that balances curriculum elements and makes learning irresistible.
In this unit we shall look at how those competencies can link with subject requirements to produce learning that is not only deep, but also irresistible. Sounds impossible? Read on!
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4. © Curriculum Foundation
We shall look at what this person said about the curriculum. Do you recognise him?
“A curriculum should be a feast of learning”
Mick Waters
Former Head of Curriculum, QCA
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5. We shall also look at what these people said about learning.
Do you recognise her?
Or him?
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6. We shall also need to all these people into account as well.
Do recognise them? No? Well, read on.
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7. By the end of this first unit of Module 2 we shall have:
Refreshed our memories about Unit 2
Go to section 3A
Explored how competencies can be developed within subject contexts
Go to section 3B
Looked at how competencies create deep learning Go to section 3C
Considered some practical examples of design
Go to section 3D
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8. In Unit 2, we looked at the ‘Building Blocks’ of a curriculum:
The story so far:
In Unit 2, we looked at the ‘Building Blocks’ of a curriculum:
Do you remember what they were?
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9. The three key ones were:
Knowledge
Possession of information
Skills
Ability to perform mental or physical operation
Understanding
Development of a concept: putting knowledge in a framework of meaning
Do they sound familiar?
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10. And there were even more ‘building blocks’ of the curriculum:
Ideas
Curiosity
Values
Imagination
Excitement
Attitudes
Aesthetic appreciation
Wonder
Personal development
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11. We also looked at Competencies. Do you remember these?
These are a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are acquired through the application of knowledge in meaningful situations. They help deepen learning and turn knowledge into understanding. They require the development of the right attitudes to apply the knowledge.
Knowledge
Skill
Attitude
Competence
In fact, you have drawn up your own list of these.
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