Bachelor of Education Honours in Curriculum

Purpose:

The purpose of this qualification is to develop the Educators' research capacity by deepening their knowledge and understanding of curriculum (theory, policy and values) while enabling them to have high level theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. This qualification is premised on the need to prioritise and establish the development and sustainability of a teaching and learning environment in which knowledge and skills that are crucial to obtaining individual and collective advantage in an increasingly integrated and competitive world context are developed. This environment includes knowing and responding to the structural and institutional barriers that exclude and prevent learners from success. Teaching has to promote active thinking and meaningful engagement with learning, whilst taking into consideration the context-specific/local values and beliefs, needs and abilities of its diverse learner population and the communities in which they are positioned. The Bachelor of Education Honours in Curriculum introduces educators to concepts and analytic activities with respect to understanding the different curriculum perspectives and approaches, policy analysis and what is crucial to curriculum values. By identifying the key concepts and principles associated with these aspects, educators will understand and be able to articulate conceptually that which underpins what is being studied, reflect on it and indicate its implications for the environment for which they are being prepared. That is, they will be able to engage in analytical activities using the conceptual tools provided to analyse what is learnt. Qualified learners will be able to:

• Explore the centrality of values and social responsibility in, curriculum, in order to clarify what is essential to promoting a democratic and socially responsible system of education.
• Deepen their learners' understanding of the historical and conceptual roots of the different curriculum perspectives and design approaches to enhance an understanding of how theorising in the field of curriculum reflects intellectual, political and moral struggles for worthwhile education.
• Focus on policy processes and analysis in order to develop learners' professional expertise as active partners in education curriculum policy making.
• Examine how curriculum policy/thinking promotes values education.
• Understand the language of educational research, various research designs and methodologies and develop an understanding of different research processes and the writing up of findings and opportunities to conduct and report on a research project in the field of curriculum.

Rationale:

There is an urgent need for teachers and other practitioners in education to understand the curriculum, educational policies and what is involved in teaching values so that they may identify theories of action that are emphasised in what they learn. This qualification enables educators to develop their research capacity by deepening knowledge and understanding while enabling them to have high level theoretical engagement and intellectual independence. Research methodology knowledge and skills will enable educators to also conduct individual studies on issues in curriculum, policy and values in education by introducing them to the vocabulary, concepts and fundamental knowledge and skills, research theories, approaches and methods that are crucial to understanding curriculum thinking, policy, and values. The Qualification will enable learners to identify the central issues or principles that they need to draw on when having to deal effectively with these aspects. This qualification combines four essential dimensions that educators will require to contribute meaningfully to the provision and development of education in South Africa, namely understanding of the aims of education, policy analysis and values education, curriculum perspectives, and research methodology.