Australia is entering into a new phase of curriculum whereby there will be no state by state curriculum. It will be a national curriculum that is developed by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). By introducing a national curriculum, the Australian Government is hoping to unify what is taught throughout the states/territories. It is possible to analyse the Australian Curriculum in terms of the definitions of curriculum it incorporates and how it is structured and how this is similar or different to various curriculum models. By using references from various readings and analysing the National Australian Curriculum, this paper will also address the purpose and goal that is promoted by the Australian Curriculum, how it is informed by factors such as learning theories, how it informs the teaching and assessment process and how it will cater for the needs of the 21st century learner.
The Australian Curriculum encompasses many different definitions of curriculum. Marsh (2008) provides various definitions of curriculum such as that it is a plan for learning, a plan for teaching, it is what is taught in schools, a set of subjects, content and a set of materials. Marsh (2010) also explores similar definitions in that curriculum is that which is taught in school, a set of subjects, content, materials, performance objectives and a plan. ACARA mention that the key elements for K-10 will be on content descriptions and achievement standards. It also points out that it will show what teachers are to teach and what students need to learn. Brady & Kennedy (2010) have provided a definition of curriculum that is linked with that of working people and write that it is a means by which students gain the requisite ...
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...Curriculum. Retrieved on March 18, 2011 from http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/curriculum.html
Board of Studies NSW (2007) NSW Primary Curriculum Foundation Statements. Retrieved on March 23, 2011, from http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/files/foundation- statements/foundation_statements.pdf
Brady,L. and Kennedy, K. (2007) Curriculum Construction (4th ed.) Frenchs Forest NSW: Pearson Australia
Marsh, C. (2008) Becoming a Teacher (4th ed.). French’s Forest NSW: Pearson Education
Marsh, C. (2010) Becoming a Teacher (5th ed.). French’s Forest NSW: Pearson Education
Quinn, D. (2010) Curriculum Corporation An Australian Curriculum to Promote 21st Century Learning. Retrieved on March 23, 2011, from http://www.eqa.edu.au/site/anaustraliancurriculumtopromote21stcentury.html
Wiles, J. (2005). Curriculum Essentials A Resource for Educators (2nd ed.). Pearson Education
The first Australian Professional Teaching Standard is ‘Know students and how they learn’(AITSL, 2011). Understanding how students learn is a significant component of effective teaching (1.2 AITSL, 2011). Furthermore, effective teachers require an understanding of students physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics (1.1 AITSL, 2011). In addition, APST Standards require teachers to demonstrate both content and pedagogical knowledge through lesson plans (2.1 AITSL, 2011) with the curriculum content being structured and sequenced to facilitate effective learning (2.2 AITSL, 2011). However, it is also critical to have a repertoire of teaching strategies which are responsive to a diverse range of student backgrounds, including linguistic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic (1.3 AITSL, 2011). An effective learning, in accordance with The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority, provides learners with general capabilities (knowledge, skills, behaviours and characteristics) and include understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students learning needs and incorporate differentiated teaching methods to meet the needs of specific
The Australian Curriculum is fluid, ever-changing and highly politicised. There is constant debate surrounding what should, and should not be taught in Australian schools. The Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) Curriculum in particular, has undergone dramatic changes over the last few years. This essay will critically analyse two provocations relating to the HASS 7-10 curriculum, and some of the surrounding issues that HASS teachers contend with on a day to day basis. The first provocation, the purpose of Civics and Citizenship teaching is to teach about democracy, not for democracy, will be examined in relation to opinions regarding left-wing bias in the Civics and Citizenship curriculum, and the idea that the course teaches too much ‘for’
Various Authors (2012) Oxford Big Ideas Australian Curriculum History 10, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria
Consequently, this means all types virtual backpacks, cultural capital, socioeconomic status and other factors need to be valued. Part of value adding is getting the community involved. A multicultural café event was set up at a small school in Sydney that has a high socioeconomic status and a small amount of students with a language background other than English (LBOTE), this was woven into the curriculum over two terms (Ferfolja, 2015). What they found was that the students participated enthusiastically, however very few parents of the LBOTE students attended and some of the cafés were not accurate. As education changes in line with social justice when curriculum, pedagogy and assessment is altered there can be unfavorable effects too. Australia had schemes to promote the education outcomes of girls and consequently these changes in curriculum and the assessment process have been viewed as too successful by some and policy has consequently shifted to boys educational outcomes (Marks, 2009). Curriculum changes can be a long process, however necessary as some children find the curriculum problematic. The Australian curriculum can be seen as linguistically foreign, culturally insensitive or inappropriate for Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) children who are in school (Kenyon, Sercombe, Black, & Lhuede, 2001). As indigenous children are a part of the least privileged and significantly disadvantaged group in Australia (C. Mills & Gale, 2010), social justice is failing educating those students. The Australia curriculum, which has been accessible since 2010, declares that it is committed to a curriculum that promotes excellence and equity in education in addition to teachers using the curriculum to assist in physical, social and aesthetic needs of all students amongst other factors (Australian Curriculum,
Qualification and Curriculum Authority and Department for Education and Employment (2000) Investing in Our Future: Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. London: QCE/DfEE
The development of a national curriculum for Australia is not a new endeavour (Marsh, 2010). The ideal is that national curriculum across Australia would mean that students are provided with a quality education that helps to shape the lives of the nations citizens and continue developing the productivity and quality of life within Australia. The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] have the task of developing and implementing a nationwide curriculum. ACARA (n.d.-c) claims have addressed needs of young Australians while considering that changing ways in learning and challenges will continue to shape students education in the future. A look at what the Australian Curriculum is, its purpose, structure and scope, learning theories and teaching processes and whether the curriculum has the capacity to meet the needs of 21st century learners will show that the initial construction of a national curriculum appears to be successful. However, the effectiveness of the Australian Curriculum will only be able to be evaluated in the future after implementation across the country.
The Australian curriculum has been designed for children in their schooling years from foundation to year twelve. Currently the curriculum has covered four learning areas (English, Mathematics, Science and History) from kindergarten to year ten. “The Australian Curriculum describes knowledge, skills and understanding organised by learning areas.” (ACARA, 2010 d). Each learning area contains a: rationale – describing the nature of learning, aims – the intended result of learning from the curriculum, year level description, strands – interrelated broad organisers for the content in each learning area, content descriptions – describe what teachers are expected to teach, content elaborations – content description sup...
The National Curriculum influences how pupils are taught in schools. The school curriculum draws from National Curriculum to develop its curriculum to meet individual learning needs of all pupils. “The four main purposes of the British National Curriculum seek: To establish an entitlement, establish standards, promote continuity and coherence, lastly to promote public understanding”
Keating, J. 1998. Australian Training Reform: Implications for Schools (Revised Edition). Curriculum Corporation, Melbourne, Victoria.
Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (2008). The Melbourne Declaration on Educational goals for young Australians. MCEECDYA: Melbourne.
According to Glatthorn, Boschee and Whitehead (2006, p.74), a curriculum theory is a set of related educational concepts that affords a systematic and illuminating perspective on curricular phenomena. In a simpler term, a curriculum theory is an academic discipline devoted to examining and shaping educational curricula (Wikipedia, curriculum theory). One that would be a proponent of a structured-oriented curriculum would be concerned primarily with analyzing the components of the curriculum and their interrelationships. They will tend to be descriptive and explanatory in intent whereas, one that is a proponent of a value-oriented curriculum would be concerned primarily with analyzing the values and assumptions of curriculum makers and their
Curriculum is important being it’s the underlying factor that plays a role in determining ones growth, achievement and success. The majority of curriculum con...
A curriculum is a compilation of study materials that are used at all grade levels, classroom and homework assignments and a set of teacher guides. It could also include a list of prescribed methodology and guidelines of teaching and some material for the parents etc. It is generally determined by an external governing body. However, there are some cases where it may be developed by the schools and teachers themselves.
Since then, Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction has been a standard reference for anyone working with curriculum development. Although not a strict how-to guide, the book shows how educators can critically approach curriculum planning, studying progress and retooling when needed. Its four sections focus on setting objectives, selecting learning experiences, organizing instruction, and evaluating progress. Readers will come away with a firm understanding of how to formulate educational objectives and how to analyze and adjust their plans so that students meet the objectives. Tyler also explains that curriculum planning is a continuous, cyclical process, an instrument of education that needs to be fine-tuned.
Although curriculum is developed by Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) so that teachers can be more aware of what they are expected to teach throughout the year, many people can influence the curriculum. These include; business owners, government, higher education, such as universities, special interest groups, parents and carers, teachers and childcare professionals and students who modify it to suit their needs (ACARA, 2013). An example of this is some business owner’s need young apprentices with certain hospitality certificates, and now as a result of greater vocational emphasis, higher years of schooling now accommodate to these students’ needs...