Research in specialist curriculum areas
Dr P Gardner
Clayton * Second semester
This subject aims to lead students to an understanding of current research in particular areas of curriculum content. It examines a wide variety of research methods that are employed in studying curriculum issues. Staff with interests in various subject areas of the school curriculum and various broader curriculum concerns will contribute to the subject curricular documents of various kinds (statements of goals, guidelines for teachers, assessment profiles, instructional materials and texts) that will be used as source documents for the subject. Research which explores the ways that fundamental curriculum issues are identified, clarified and worked through in practice in particular subject areas will be discussed. For example, issues of equity and inclusiveness, conceptions of quality in learning, ethnicity and multiculturalism, assessment of learning outcomes, integration of knowledge from various subject fields and use of educational technology may be examined in specific areas such as mathematics, language studies, science and technology, computing and the social sciences and in cross-subject projects such as PEEL (Project for Enhancing Effective Learning).
Assessment
The major assignment for this subject will be an essay of about 8000 words, on a negotiated topic (the topic must focus upon some aspect of curriculum practice and demonstrate research competence) * Students will also be expected to give oral presentations about their topic during the semester