Deck 6: Exploring and Contesting Curriculum

Question 1

In Cuban's four-fold classification to describe curricula in use in schools, 'the official curriculum' refers to:

A) what is assessed.
B) what is learnt.
C) what is in curriculum frameworks.
D) what is taught.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The authors of this textbook define curriculum as 'an interrelated set of planned content and experiences in which a student engages within the context of the school and under the guidance of teachers' (p .91). They then go on to amplify and illustrate the meaning of the definition. Explain your understanding of the meaning of each part of this definition and compare and contrast this definition with one other definition of curriculum found in Chapter 6.

Answer 2

The student's response should cover the following:
-'Interrelated set of planned content and experiences' means curriculum is largely planned but is also an amalgam of content and experiences (unplanned happenings).
-'A student engages' means curriculum is not a one-way transmission of ideas and information from the teacher.
-'In the context of the schools and under the guidance of teachers' refers to all persons associated with the school who may have some input into planning curriculum.
-Comparison with other definitions on pages 89-91 (e.g. curriculum is a 'set of performance objectives for student learning at a variety of sites' has a stronger emphasis on curriculum as outcomes and allows for curriculum to be learning done outside of the school).

Question 3

One strength of defining curriculum as 'a set of performance objectives for student learning in a variety of sites' is that the emphasis is on:

A) students.
B) content.
C) resources.
D) teaching strategies.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

What is the overall aim of curriculum planning?

Question 5

Is this statement True or False? 'The drift of student enrolments towards private schools is showing signs of abating.'

Question 6

In the Australian Curriculum, achievement standards describe:

A) the knowledge, understandings and skills to be taught.
B) the depth of understanding, extent of knowledge and sophistication of skills expected of students.
C) the teaching strategies to be used.
D) the goals for what is to be taught.

Question 7

The curriculum as experienced in the classroom should be:

A) a one-way transmission of ideas and information from the teacher to students.
B) primarily a response to students' interests and questions.
C) the same for all students at a particular year level.
D) a series of communications between both groups based on interest and motivation.

Question 8

A criterion that teachers would not normally keep in mind when formulating their curricula is:

A) competition.
B) integration.
C) sequence.
D) variety and relevance.

Question 9

The impact on curriculum implementation of factors such as the level and interests of the students or preferences of the local community can:

A) be overcome by good teaching.
B) add richness to the enacted curriculum.
C) lead to gaps between the intended ideal curriculum and the enacted curriculum.
D) make working from curriculum documents difficult for teachers.

Question 10

Drawing on what you have learnt about curriculum in Australia, discuss the relationship between high stakes testing and curriculum.

Question 11

The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (2009), which provides a set of learning outcomes for children from birth to 5 years, has an emphasis on:

A) communication and language.
B) abstract thinking skills.
C) rote learning.
D) collaborative learning.

Question 12

It is difficult to make comparisons between the curriculum offerings of private and public schools because:

A) private schools use the International Baccalaureate.
B) private schools have more funding resources to experiment with new curricula.
C) public schools can select more experienced teachers.
D) parents of public school students tend to have more wealth and influence.

Question 13

According to Tapscott (2007), curriculum is now dominated by:

A) government priorities.
B) parental demands.
C) the internet.
D) students' interests.

Question 14

In addition to the collection of literacy and numeracy data through NAPLAN, data is collected on a rolling basis about students' performance in:

A) physical development.
B) social skills and mental health.
C) problem-solving skills.
D) science, civics and citizenship.

Question 15

'Curriculum' has many different definitions. Which of the following is not included in Chapter 6 as a definition of curriculum? Curriculum is:

A) a set of performance objectives for students learning at a variety of sites.
B) what students want to learn.
C) everything that is planned by school personnel.
D) a set of subjects.

Question 16

The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) obtains literacy and numeracy data from all students in years:

A) 1, 3, 5 and 7.
B) 2, 4, 6 and 8.
C) 3, 5, 7 and 9.
D) 4, 6, 8 and 10.

Question 17

Explain the difference between the terms 'syllabus' and 'curriculum'.

Question 18

In Australia and other countries the dominant mode of curriculum is curriculum as:

A) outcomes.
B) strategies.
C) knowledge.
D) product.

Question 19

Describe three principles teachers should use to guide their planning of sequence as part of curriculum development. For each one provide a brief example of how that might be done in the planning of a lesson on a topic of your choice.

Question 20

For some parents, the publishing of NAPLAN results has been a significant improvement in:

A) making school activities and standards of teaching more transparent.
B) finding out more about their child's specific needs in Mathematics and English.
C) being able to help their children to be successful.
D) being able to identify the best teachers within a school.

Question 21

It is contended that at the system level, national assessments help government ministers make decisions about:

A) the professional development needs of teachers.
B) resourcing in priority curriculum areas.
C) the quality of schools.
D) the quality of teacher education programs.

Question 22

Is this statement True or False? 'Some experts are concerned that the focus in NAPLAN on achievement standards in literacy and numeracy has resulted in a narrowing of the curriculum because some teachers feel they need to "teach to the test".'