Showing papers on "Curriculum development published in 2013"

Cyberbullying among youth: a comprehensive review of current international research and its implications and application to policy and practice

Abstract: Cyberbullying research is rapidly expanding with many studies being published from around the world in the past five or six years. In this article we review the current international literature published in English, with particular attention to the following themes: The relationship of cyberbullying to the more traditional face-to-face bullying, including differences and similarities; the impacts of cyberbullying on victims, bullies, schools, families, and communities; coping strategies for victims, schools, and parents; and solutions, both effective and ineffective. A focus of this article is evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies, which may be employed by educators, psychological service providers, and by parents to counter the problem of cyberbullying. Here we address the importance of school and home culture, modelling, curriculum development in information and communication technology (ICT) and social media, peer and bystander education, and other non-punitive approaches. We conclude with a discussion of implications on policy and practice and future research directions. Language: en

Curriculum Approaches in Language Teaching: Forward, Central, and Backward Design.

Abstract: The development and implementation of language teaching programs can be approached in several different ways, each of which has different implications for curriculum design. Three curriculum approa...

The Identification of Threshold Concepts: A Review of Theoretical Complexities and Methodological Challenges.

Abstract: While the study of threshold concepts is a growing area of research, their identification has not proven to be an easy process. However, identification matters because of the potential impact of threshold concepts on the learning experiences of students. A dialogue amongst lecturers and/or students is common to the literature on identification of threshold concepts. This dialogue, with the inclusion of educational developers, has been called ‘transactional curriculum inquiry’ (Cousin in Researching learning in higher education, Routledge, New York, 2009). Diverse methods across a variety of disciplines have explored the identification of threshold concepts, including semi-structured interviews, analysis of exam responses and observation of classroom behaviour. A selection of these methods and disciplines is discussed in order to highlight two main challenges inherent in the identification process: first, the involvement of the wider professional and/or public community, and second, a lack of agreement amongst research participants about the threshold concepts within disciplines. This paper proposes that the transactional curriculum inquiry process should be extended to involve parties beyond the educational realm (e.g. the professional community) and that the use of consensus methodology offers the potential to facilitate agreement across the transactional process.

Comparing internationalisation of the curriculum in action across disciplines: theoretical and practical perspectives

Abstract: Internationalisation and internationalisation of the curriculum in higher education are not new concepts, but they are much debated and diversely interpreted. Studies of the higher education curriculum have been scarce. Studies of internationalisation of the curriculum in higher education are even rarer and, with a few exceptions, are focused on a single institution and/or a single discipline. This paper presents a conceptual framework for internationalisation of the curriculum that explains the foundations of alternative constructions of an internationalised curriculum and presents three case studies of internationalisation of the curriculum in three disciplines and universities in Australia. The framework is based on research that engaged academic staff in the process of exploring and making explicit the meaning of internationalisation of the curriculum in their programmes. It highlights the full complexity of internationalisation of the curriculum in context, prompts consideration of alternative paradi...

Chemistry, Life, the Universe, and Everything: A New Approach to General Chemistry, and a Model for Curriculum Reform

Abstract: The history of general chemistry is one of almost constant calls for reform, yet over the past 60 years little of substance has changed. Those reforms that have been implemented are almost entirely concerned with how the course is taught, rather than what is to be learned. Here we briefly discuss the history of the general chemistry curriculum and consider why meaningful change has been difficult. In this light we present a rationale for why curriculum reform is necessary, and how it can be accomplished, based on our current understanding of teaching and learning at the college level. We present a model for curriculum development based on five important questions: (i) What should students know? (ii) In what order should they learn it? (iii) What do students bring with them to the course? (iv) What materials are best suited for different purposes? and (v) How can student understanding be assessed? We use our new general chemistry course CLUE: Chemistry, Life, the Universe, and Everything as an example of m...

Pedagogy, curriculum, teaching practices and teacher education in developing countries. Education rigorous literature review.

Abstract: This rigorous literature review, focused on pedagogy, curriculum, teaching practices and teacher education in developing countries. It aimed to: - review existing evidence on the review topic to inform programme design and policy making undertaken by the DFID, other agencies and researchers - identify critical evidence gaps to guide the development of future research programmes

Student as co-producer in a marketised higher education system: a case study of students’ experience of participation in curriculum design

Abstract: Student engagement is an expectation of UK quality enhancement processes. It is not without its challenges in a marketised higher education sector where students are increasingly treated as consumers of an educational product. Nowhere is this more the case than in curriculum development. This encompasses engagement in learning and teaching, in identity and in governance. As such, it demands a lot of both students and tutors. This paper reports a case study of student participation in curriculum development. Analysis of data from students who were involved in the process, complemented by information from students who did not engage, suggests that meaningful engagement requires a revision of the culture and processes of university curriculum decision making. Moreover, it concludes that engagement needs to be a consistent part of the student experience and not just an activity that occurs in a particular quality enhancement activity such as curriculum design.

Beyond Breadth-Speed-Test: Toward Deeper Knowing and Engagement in an Advanced Placement Course

Abstract: We report a mixed-methods design experiment that aims to achieve deeper learning in a breadth-oriented, college-preparatory course—AP U.S. Government and Politics. The study was conducted with 289 students in 12 classrooms across four schools and in an “excellence for all” context of expanding enrollments in AP courses. Contributions include its investigation of a model of deeper learning, development of a test to assess it, and fusion of project-based learning with a traditional curriculum. Findings suggest that a course of quasi-repetitive projects can lead to higher scores on the AP test but a floor effect on the assessment of deeper learning. Implications are drawn for assessing deeper learning and helping students adapt to shifts in the grammar of schooling.

New School Art Styles: The Project of Art Education.

Abstract: (2013). New School Art Styles: The Project of Art Education. Art Education: Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 6-15.

Educator mental health literacy: a programme evaluation of the teacher training education on the mental health & high school curriculum guide

Abstract: Mental disorders make up close to one-third of the global burden of disease experienced during adolescence. Schools can play an important role in the promotion of positive mental health as well as an integral role in the pathways into mental health care for adolescents. In order for schools to effectively address the mental health problems of their students, educators must improve their mental health literacy. The current study examines the impact of an educator training programme designed to support educators in the delivery of a high school mental health curriculum within their classrooms, such as health class. Specifically, a paired-samples t test was used to examine the change in educators' knowledge and attitudes regarding mental health following their participation in this educator training. Eighty-three educators participated in the training, and survey data from 79 were included in the final analysis. Structured feedback on the training was obtained. Significant increases in both knowledge and att...

Teachers' Perceptions of the Recent Curriculum Reforms and Their Implementation: What Can We Learn from the Case of Korean Elementary Teachers?.

Abstract: This study examines: 1) how Korean elementary school teachers perceive recent curriculum reforms; 2) where their perceptions emanate from; and 3) what support teachers need in order to implement curriculum reforms actively and effectively. This study has shown that teachers generally harbour negative and unconstructive feelings about curriculum reform. These feelings negatively impact their involvement in and commitment to implementing reform. Several issues to be considered for teacher training and support evolved from our analysis of teachers' perceptions of the curriculum reform and the implementation: first, teachers are insufficiently provided with professional development programmes that support curriculum implementation; second, teachers lack opportunities to work through implementation problems and difficulties with peer teachers; and last, contextual and cultural constraints inhibit implementation of curriculum reform. Based upon these findings, this study makes several suggestions for teacher ed...

English language teaching curriculum in Iran: planning and practice

Abstract: The present study investigates English language teaching (ELT) curriculum planning in Iran's Ministry of Education and its implementation by teachers. We studied programme evaluation; needs analysis; the ELT-specific documents; communication channels between planning and practice levels; teacher evaluation and student assessment; interpretation and re-examination of national policies within the Ministry; and the criteria set for ELT material development. Instrumentation included: curriculum documents; interviews with Ministry officials, material developers and headteachers; and teacher questionnaires. Results attested to the lack of any ELT-specific document for material development and absence of research-based needs assessment as the foundation of the programmes. Also, there are no pre-defined linguistic and professional criteria for evaluating teachers, and planning for students' assessment is limited to a set of general guidelines. Moreover, there is neither a programme evaluation nor an ELT evaluatio...

A bibliometric mapping of the structure of STEM education using co-word analysis

Abstract: STEM, a set of fields that includes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; allied disciplines ranging from environmental, agricultural, and earth sciences to life science and computer science; and education and training in these fields, is clearly at the top of the list of priority funding areas for governments, including the United States government. The U.S. has 11 federal agencies dedicated to supporting programs and providing funding for research and curriculum development. The domain of STEM education has significant implications in preparing the desired workforce with the requisite knowledge, developing appropriate curricula, providing teachers the necessary professional development, focusing research dollars on areas that have maximum impact, and developing national educational policy and standards. A complex undertaking such as STEM education, which attracts interest and valuable resources from a number of stakeholders needs to be well understood. In light of this, we attempt to describe the underlying structure of STEM education, its core areas, and their relationships through co-word analyses of the titles, keywords, and abstracts of the relevant literature using visualization and bibliometric mapping tools. Implications are drawn with respect to the nature of STEM education as well as curriculum and policy development.

Internationalisation of higher education curriculum: the contribution of international students

Abstract: Internationalisation of Australian higher education was initially characterised as growth in the number of international students. While the economic benefits brought by this student cohort and the challenges associated with teaching them are well noted in the literature, their academic contributions are hardly acknowledged. Using a qualitative research approach, the paper explores the extent to which international students facilitate the internationalisation of the curriculum and the intercultural learning of domestic students. Interviews with academic staff in one university in Australia indicated that international students brought a diversity of cultures that inspired teachers in their teaching. While academic staff members positively value these potentials, they argued that domestic students remained neglectful and unaware of the changing cultural environment. It was a challenge for staff to get domestic students to utilise the cultural resources represented by the students. Some implications were di...

How principals promote and understand teacher development under curriculum reform in China

Abstract: On-going curriculum reform in China demands that teachers and principals shift their norms of practice to facilitate student learning. Principals are expected to take a more hands-on approach and work more collaboratively with teachers towards curriculum change. This paper presents case studies of how principals in three different schools in Shanghai shaped teacher development activities which built teacher understanding and capacity to meet the requirements of the curriculum reform. The analysis provides insights into how principals proactively promoted teacher development and identifies some of possible gaps in their strategies. Implications are drawn about the relationships between curriculum reform, school leadership and teacher development.

A curriculum for teaching computer science through computational textiles

Abstract: The field of computational textiles has shown promise as a domain for diversifying computer science culture by drawing a population with broad and non-traditional interests and backgrounds into creating technology. In this paper, we present a curriculum that teaches computer science and computer programming through a series of activities that involve building and programming computational textiles. We also describe two new technological tools, Modkit and the LilyPad ProtoSnap board, that support implementation of the curriculum. In 2011-12, we conducted three workshops to evaluate the impact of our curriculum and tools on students' technological self-efficacy. We conclude that our curriculum both draws a diverse population, and increases students' comfort with, enjoyment of, and interest in working with electronics and programming.

A salutogenic, strengths-based approach as a theory to guide HPE curriculum change

Abstract: The draft Australian Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA], 2012c) takes a strengths-based approach that emphasizes questions such as ‘What keeps me healthy and active?’ rather than ‘What risks, diseases and behaviours should I learn to avoid?’. This paper explores a salutogenic approach to the strengths-based orientation that has been identified as one of the five key propositions in the new Australian HPE curriculum. A salutogenic approach to a health literacy unit provides some initial insight into the possibilities and challenges posed by the implementation of a strengths-based orientation to HPE. Questions of relative emphases and potential weaknesses are subsequently raised as means of identifying the influence of curriculum interpretation, design and pedagogical practice in securing the implementation of a strengths-based oriented Australian HPE.

The new Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum: a case of/for gradualism in curriculum reform?

Abstract: In March 2012, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) released for public consultation the Shape Paper for the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education (HPE) that was finalized for publication in August 2012. This paper set out the key propositions for a ‘futures-oriented’ curriculum suggesting that HPE should: take a strengths-based approach; focus on educative outcomes; develop health literacy skills; value learning in, about and through movement; and include an inquiry-based approach. As the Lead Writer of the Shape Paper, I believed my task was to consider both what is and what could be. This Fritz Duras Lecture introduces the research and thinking behind the HPE Shape Paper, helping to illuminate this case of curriculum-making. It also reflexively asks if this case is notable for its gradualism, interrogating the strengths and weaknesses of gradualism as applied in curriculum reform.

Negotiating Problems of Practice in Research—Practice Design Partnerships

Abstract: This chapter focuses on how researchers and practitioners negotiate the focus of their joint work within design-based implementation research (DBIR). Studying and facilitating successful negotiation of the problems that become the focus of work and the search for solutions is important for developing DBIR, because of its commitment to focusing on persistent problems of practice from multiple stakeholders’ perspectives. Case studies of two different research–practice partnerships provide a context for exploring two different perspectives on negotiation. In one case study, the notion of partnerships as forms of cultural exchange across institutional boundaries that differ with respect to goals, norms, and practices is used to analyze a design partnership focused on repurposing curriculum units in elementary science. In the second case study, the concept of framing as developed in social movement theory is used to illuminate issues of status and authority within a partnership between a district and researchers. The chapter concludes by describing the contributions of each perspective to an understanding of how teams jointly negotiate the focus of their work and by providing some recommendations for how teams can do so successfully.

Fostering student sense making in elementary science learning environments: Elementary teachers' use of science curriculum materials to promote explanation construction

Abstract: While research has shown that elementary (K-5) students are capable of engaging in the scientific practice of explanation construction, commonly-used elementary science curriculum materials may not always afford them opportunities to do so. As a result, elementary teachers must often adapt their science curriculum materials to better support students' explanation construction and foster student sense making. However, little research has been conducted to explore if and, if so, how and why, elementary teachers modify science curriculum materials to engage students in explanation construction. We use an embedded mixed methods research design to explore elementary teachers' (n = 45) curricular adaptations and pedagogical reasoning. We collected and quantitatively analyzed a matched set of 121 elementary science lesson plans and video recorded lesson enactments to investigate the extent to which inservice elementary teachers engage in instruction to more productively support students' explanation construction. Our findings suggest that the curriculum materials heavily emphasized hands-on engagement and data collection over explanation construction and that the teachers' adaptations did not fundamentally alter scientific sense-making opportunities afforded students in the lesson plans. Interviews and other artifacts were also collected and analyzed to construct a multiple-case study of four of these elementary teachers. Findings from the case study suggest that the teachers' conceptions of explanation construction and concerns about the abilities of their students to engage in scientific explanations impacted their curricular adaptations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 50: 989–1017, 2013

Teacher education and the best-loved self

Abstract: Four narrative fragments involving research disseminated globally – namely, United States, Israel, The Netherlands, The People's Republic of China – are used to instantiate the phenomenon of teachers teaching their best-loved selves, without becoming the curriculum themselves. Next, the development of the best-loved self-conceptualization as it emerged in Joseph J. Schwab's scholarship is traced, along with important connections to Michael Connelly and Jean Clandinin's research programme. After that, two important research questions are addressed: (1) If the best-loved self is integral to the teacher-as-curriculum-maker image, what practices might we engage in in teacher education to foster the best-loved self? And (2) How does change happen in pre-service teachers' pedagogical practices and repertoires, given the potential significance of the teacher's best-loved self-image? To conclude, the work returns to the opening narrative fragments to determine the answers that lie within.

The Impact of Differentiated Instruction in a Teacher Education Setting: Successes and Challenges.

Abstract: This study examined the impact of using a differentiated instructional approach to teaching second year students pursuing an undergraduate course in curriculum studies at a tertiary institution. These prospective teachers varied in terms of their interests, experiences, personal circumstances, and learning preferences. Four hundred and thirty-four students in two education campuses took the course over a period of one semester. Half of the student body experienced differentiated instruction while the other half was exposed to the whole- class instructional approach. At the end of the course, an assessment was made to determine the extent to which differentiated instruction had a positive impact on students’ general understanding of the course. Findings of the study revealed that students at both campuses responded favourably to the differentiated instructional approach, with 90% of participants reporting higher levels of intellectual growth and interest in the subject. Assessment of student learning revealed that the majority of students in the differentiated classrooms demonstrated sound understanding of major concepts taught in the curriculum studies course. Almost all of the students (99%) expressed willingness to experiment with differentiated instruction in subsequent practicum sessions during their tenure at the university, and 88% indicated a desire to use a differentiated instructional approach in their classrooms upon graduation.

A Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Framework to Develop Graduate Skills and Attributes in an Australian University's Accounting Program.

Abstract: Universities are being placed under increasing pressure to produce employable 'work ready' graduates who are able to cope in a rapidly changing work environment. This has resulted in universities offering their undergraduate students the opportunity to gain good business acumen and real world experience by undertaking Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as part of their learning. This paper proposes a three stage WIL Framework to effectively embed WIL into an undergraduate accounting program. Through careful planning and implementation in three accounting courses, students are encouraged to build essential discipline knowledge and transferable generic skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving. The WIL Framework developed seeks to narrow the expectations gap between industry, academia and students. It supports the development of graduates who can respond to changing economic circumstances making them more employable and adaptable at the workplace.