scholarly journals Understanding the School Curriculum: Theory, Politics and Principles

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-136
Author(s):  
Daeyoung Goh

Alex Moore’s (2015) Understanding the School Curriculum: Theory, Politics and Principles explores how the school curriculum works through its becoming as it navigates reproductive paranoia and (r)evolutionary schizophrenia. Moore suggests that the school curriculum inevitably intersects with political and socio-economic interests as well as the globalization movement. In this light, the book stimulates the reader to ponder questions such as, “Who decides what kind of knowledge we should have in this wider, ever-changing world?” and “How have issues around knowledge developed with the school curriculum?” and “What sort of future could educators imagine for alternative knowledge, educational practice and society?” Such questions haunt the book, while promoting the educator and the learner to risk weaving a creative becoming and thereby moving the realm of knowledge from the boundary of instrumental rationality to the horizon of dynamics of humanity.

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Gustafsson

Abstract: The purpose of this research is concerned with the intentions of pedagogical integration and the notion of an expanded concept of teaching as described in the National School Curriculum of Sweden. In the analysis a theoretical synthesis comprising critical discourse analysis and sociological theories of institutional identities and processes is used through a policy ethnography approach. Purpose has been focus on the relationship between the formal, written curriculum and specific, local, classroom practices. The analysis shows that the Pedagogical dimensions of integration were transformed toward economic interests and control at the local political level. Education work is distinctly regionalising into two so-called safety zones, and a hybrid zone. Four different pedagogical identities are also identified in the analysis. The analysis thus suggests that the creation of safety zones restricts education work to pre-existing patterns. Only the hybrid zone is presently carrying a potential to significantly renew education and encourage and social change.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (14) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl M. Lorenz ◽  
Aricle Vechia

One can identify two great movements during the nineteenth century in which educational theories and practices were transplanted from Europe and the United States to Brazil. The first addressed the secondary school curriculum, and began with the founding of the Imperial College Pedro II in Rio de Janeiro in 1838. The college was created by the Imperial Government to, in part, serve as a model for private and public secondary schools in the provinces. Throughout the 1800s, French curriculum theory shaped the debates about the purpose, organization and content taught in the College, and to a larger extent, about the nature of secondary education in general. The second transnational movement centered on the method of teaching in the primary school.


2021 ◽  
pp. 102-129
Author(s):  
Lina Spjut

This article investigates in what way the Swedish compulsory school curriculum (Lgr11) addresses knowledge regarding Swedish national minorities. The aim is to study alignment within Lgr11 through a case of the theme national minorities. Research questions target alignment within syllabi and alignment between syllabi and the aim and guidelines in the curricula. Theories of alignment and curriculum theory formed the theory and methodology for the analysis, foregrounding similarities and differences in how Swedish national minorities are addressed in Lgr11. Results show numerous inconsistencies. Learning goals in curriculum and syllabus content are, for instance, not aligned, and differences exist within the syllabus between aim (syfte), central content (centralt innehåll) and the lower set measurable demands (kunskapskrav). This is problematic since earlier research demonstrated that measurable demands have out-conquered teaching content. These challenges for teacher’s interpretation of curricula and syllabus can affect the teaching content.


2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 540-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Bajada ◽  
Walter Jarvis ◽  
Rowan Trayler ◽  
Anh Tuan Bui

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the implications for curriculum design by operationalizing threshold concepts and capabilities (TCC) in subject delivery. The motivation for undertaking this exploration is directly related to addressing public concerns for the business school curriculum. Design/methodology/approach – A post facto analysis of a compulsory subject in finance that is part of an Australian business degree and the impact on a subsequent finance subject. Findings – Customary approaches to granting part-marks in assessing students, (fractionalising) understanding of content can mean students pass subjects without grasping foundational concepts (threshold concepts) and are therefore not fully prepared for subsequent subjects. Research limitations/implications – Students passing subjects through fractionalization are poorly equipped to undertake deeper explorations in related subjects. If replicated across whole degree programs students may graduate not possessing the attributes claimed for them through their qualification. The implications for undermining public trust and confidence in qualifications are profound and disturbing. Practical implications – The literature has exposed risks associated with operationalizing threshold through assessments. This highlights a risk to public trust in qualifications. Originality/value – Operationalizing threshold concepts is an underexplored field in curriculum theory. The importance of operationalizing customary approaches to assessments through fractionalising marks goes to the legitimacy and integrity of qualifications granted by higher education. Operationalizing assessments for TCC presents profound, inescapable and essential challenges to the legitimacy of award granting institutions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
Gildijoney Dos Santos Lopes ◽  
Nilma Margarida De Castro Crusoé ◽  
Núbia Regina Moreira

O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar resultados de pesquisa realizada, nos anos de 2015-2016, em três unidades escolares situadas do interior da Bahia. A pesquisa versa sobre a relação entre a prática educativa e a emancipação humana no contexto do Programa Mais Educação, sob a perspectiva dos estudantes participantes do referido programa. Para ter acesso às informações, foram utilizadas entrevistas de grupo focal com a participação de trinta estudantes que frequentaram o programa, além de um questionário socioeconômico com a finalidade de traçar o perfil dos participantes da investigação. Optou-se por utilizar dispositivos metodológicos do materialismo histórico dialético, por se tratar de um programa cujas categorias principais são de base marxista: educação integral e emancipação humana. Conclui-se, com este estudo, que a prática educativa do PMEd contribui, parcialmente, para a emancipação humana dos estudantes, na medida em que proporciona o desenvolvimento de habilidades necessárias para conscientização e racionalidade, sobretudo, por meio das oficinas do macrocampo Acompanhamento Pedagógico, quando os estudantes têm a oportunidade de ampliar seus conhecimentos. No entanto, contraditoriamente, de acordo com as análises adorniana, o trabalho proporciona o processo de adaptação dos estudantes ao meio social na medida em que desenvolve atividades socioeducativas desconectadas com o currículo escolar, fragmentadas, não planejadas, como intuito apenas de ocupação do tempo livre dos estudantes, sem o compromisso com a sua formação integral e desenvolvimento da capacidade de autorreflexão crítica.AbstractThe objective this article is to present research results in the years 2015-2016 in three school units located in the interior of Bahia. The research is about the relation between educational practice and human emancipation in the context of the More Education program under the perspective of the students participants of said program. To access the information, were used focus group interviews with the participation of thirty students that attended the program, besides a socioeconomic questionnaire with the purpose of tracing the profile of the participants. It was decided to use methodological devices of dialectical historical materialism, because it is a program whose main categories are based on Marxism: integral education and human emancipation. It is concluded that with this study that the practice of PMED contributes, partially to the human emancipation of the students,  insofar as it provides the development of skills necessary for awareness and rationality, above all, through the  workshops of the macro field accompaniment pedagogical when students have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge. However, contradictorily, according to the analyzes, the work provides the   process of adaptation of the  students to the social environment insofar as it develops activities socio-educational disconnected with the school curriculum, fragmented, not planned with the intention of only occupying the students free time without the commitment to their integral formation and development of the capacity for critical self-reflection. Keywords:  Emancipation. Educational Practice. More Education Program. ResumenEl propósito de este artículo es presentar resultados de investigaciones realizadas en tres unidades de la escuela situadas en el interior de Bahia, en los años de 2015-2016, sobre la relación entre práctica educativa y la emancipación humana en el contexto del “Programa Mais Educação”, bajo la perspectiva de estudiantes que participan del Programa. Para tener acceso a la información fueron utilizadas entrevistas de grupos focal con la participación de treinta estudiantes que asistieron al programa, además de una encuesta socio-económica con el fin de trazar el perfil de los participantes. Decidimos utilizar dispositivos metodológicos de la dialéctica del materialismo histórico, ya que es un programa cuyas principales categorías son de base marxista: educación integral y la emancipación humana. Llegó a la conclusión, con este estudio, que la práctica educativa de la PMEd contribuye parcialmente a la emancipación humana de los estudiantes, que proporciona el desarrollo de habilidades necesarias para la concientización y racionalidad, sobre todo, a través de los talleres de macrocampo seguimiento pedagógico cuando los estudiantes tienen la oportunidad de ampliar sus conocimientos. Sin embargo, paradójicamente, de acuerdo con el análisis adorniana, el trabajo proporciona el proceso de adaptación de los estudiantes con el entorno social en la medida en que se desarrolla actividades educativas desconectado con el plan de estudios, fragmentario, interrupciones no planificadas, con objetivo sólo  de ocupación del tiempo libre de los estudiantes, sin el compromiso de su formación integral y desarrollo de la capacidad crítica de autorreflexión.Palabras clave: Emancipación. Práctica Educativa. Programa Mais Educação.


1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 28-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrie A. Irving ◽  
Sajida Raja

This article identifies the impact of a rapidly changing world of work upon the provision of career education, and considers the need to implement a radical response. Moving away from narrow definitions of career as “linear progression and work preparation”, a “new” career education paradigm is discussed that is proactive, dynamic, forward looking and critical, locating career education at the centre of the school curriculum. It is imperative for career education to develop an “organic” model that demonstrates relevancy and meaning by embracing and involving all sections of the wider community. Questions are raised about the current philosophy of career education and the extent to which it reflects and transmits the inequities of the current labour market. A critical framework is proposed that seeks to actively empower students by enabling them to review and evaluate the changes taking place, from both a social and individual perspective. Implications for practice and delivery of career education are identified and located within a lifelong learning context.


Author(s):  
Patrick Roberts

The application of curriculum theory and models of curriculum development to museum education helps inform the analysis of the representational, communicative, epistemological, and cognitive dimensions of the formal, informal, and nonformal learning that takes place in the museum setting. Museums and other in/nonformal learning environments implicitly and explicitly engage questions of worth inherent to curriculum inquiry. Within the Curriculum Studies field, such questions reflect both an historical and a contemporary concern with issues of diversity, accessibility, social justice, civic value, and human rights in school and non-school curriculum contexts. In addition to other curriculum analysis frameworks, international instances of museum education curricula can be understood through the lenses of three “human interests”: the technical, the practical, and the emancipatory. A preference for designing educational materials and experiences around predetermined objectives reflects a technical interest in museum curricula. Within this technical approach, which can also be conceptualized as curriculum as product, the success or failure of a curriculum depends on the degree to which the intended objectives are achieved. Curriculum as practice reflects a practical interest in the way understanding and knowledge are created (rather than simply transmitted) through the dynamic social interactions between teacher and learner. A curriculum as practice orientation aligns with constructivist views on museum learning. Representing an emancipatory interest in human liberation and the overcoming of oppressive social structures is the curriculum as praxis orientation. This approach to museum curricula often assumes a social justice goal of community empowerment that seeks to translate understanding or consciousness-raising into action.


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