Educational Studies module: critical curriculum studies

The aims of this module are to introduce students to key theorectical, methodological and empirical issues related to curriculum, curriculum policy reform and its impact in national and global contexts. The module aims to empower students to adopt an active and critical role in developing curricula.

The curriculum is often taken for granted by those who experience it, such as parents, students and teachers. This module poses philosophical and conceptual questions about curriculum – what is it, why does it exist and who is it for? Different definitions of and perspectives on curriculum are explored to establish a framework for critical curriculum study. Relationships between globalisation and curriculum reform will be investigated, addressing such themes as homogenisation/localisation, marketisation, policy migration and the influence of curriculum on national identity. A case study school curriculum reform in England will be critically examined before broadening the focus to include critical analysis of examples of curriculum policy changes in students´ own professional lives. This focused study of curriculum construction and change will be carried out from the perspective of curriculum history, policy reform, analysis and implementation and evaluation.