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Session Information
03 SES 07 JS, European Curriculum Policy: The case of curriculum making in diverse contexts Part 1
Joint Symposium NW 03 and NW 23 to be continued in 03 SES 08 JS
Contribution
Wales offers an interesting and in many ways novel version of the ‘New Curriculum’ (Priestley & Biesta 2013). In common with earlier variants of this approach (e.g. Scotland, New Zealand, Ireland), the emerging curriculum emphasizes the centrality of the learner, the development of so-called 21st century skills, and the importance of teachers as local curriculum makers and active agents of change. Nevertheless, the new Welsh curriculum, first mooted in the Successful Futures report (Donaldson, 2015) is already manifesting some different features. First, it has eschewed the almost ubiquitous model of framing the curriculum through large numbers of learning outcomes, set out into linear and hierarchical structures. This is a response to previous research (e.g. CEDEFOP, 2009; Priestley & Minty, 2013) that has linked this approach to highly instrumental audit approaches to curriculum development. Instead, the Welsh curriculum has adopted a framework articulated via ‘What Matters?’ statements, each associated with a narrative for progression in learning. Second, the curriculum planners have responded to critiques of other ‘New Curriculum’ policy (e.g. Young & Muller, 2010) by emphasizing the importance of disciplinary knowledge in the emerging specifications. An especially interesting feature of the Welsh curriculum has been the active involvement of practitioners – termed Pioneer Teachers – in the co-construction of the curriculum at a high level in the system (e.g. the development of cross-curricular principles, and the articulation of purposes and content in six subject domains termed Areas of Learning and Experience [AoLE]). This paper will explore these macro-level processes – especially the production of curricular specification – that are currently unfolding as the curricular vision of Successful Futures is developed in its early stages. This will draw upon the presenter’s reflections on his own experiences within the process, as well upon semi-structured interviews with key players – primarily Pioneer Teachers in working groups writing subject level specification for the AoLEs.
References
CEDEFOP (2009). The shift to learning outcomes: policies and practices in Europe. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Donaldson, G. (2015). Successful Futures: Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales. Cardiff: The Welsh Government. Priestley, M & Biesta G.J.J. (Eds.) (2013). Reinventing the Curriculum: New Trends in Curriculum Policy and Practice. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Priestley, M. & Minty, S. (2013). Curriculum for Excellence: 'A brilliant idea, but. . .'. Scottish Educational Review, 45(1), pp. 39-52. Young, M. & Muller, J. (2010). Three Educational Scenarios for the Future: Lessons from the sociology of knowledge. European Journal of Education, 45(1), 11-27.
Programme by Network 2019
00. Central Events (Keynotes, EERA-Panel, EERJ Round Table, Invited Sessions)
Network 1. Continuing Professional Development: Learning for Individuals, Leaders, and Organisations
Network 2. Vocational Education and Training (VETNET)
Network 3. Curriculum Innovation
Network 4. Inclusive Education
Network 5. Children and Youth at Risk and Urban Education
Network 6. Open Learning: Media, Environments and Cultures
Network 7. Social Justice and Intercultural Education
Network 8. Research on Health Education
Network 9. Assessment, Evaluation, Testing and Measurement
Network 10. Teacher Education Research
Network 11. Educational Effectiveness and Quality Assurance
Network 12. LISnet - Library and Information Science Network
Network 13. Philosophy of Education
Network 14. Communities, Families and Schooling in Educational Research
Network 15. Research Partnerships in Education
Network 16. ICT in Education and Training
Network 17. Histories of Education
Network 18. Research in Sport Pedagogy
Network 19. Ethnography
Network 20. Research in Innovative Intercultural Learning Environments
Network 22. Research in Higher Education
Network 23. Policy Studies and Politics of Education
Network 24. Mathematics Education Research
Network 25. Research on Children's Rights in Education
Network 26. Educational Leadership
Network 27. Didactics – Learning and Teaching
Network 28. Sociologies of Education
Network 29. Reserach on Arts Education
Network 30. Research on Environmental und Sustainability Education
Network 31. Research on Language and Education (LEd)
Network 32. Organizational Education
The programme is updated regularly (each day in the morning)
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