Essay on Your subject in the curriculum

Submitted By sherinenecoula
Words: 1025
Pages: 5
Open Document
Task 1

The National Curriculum – Mission and Purpose

The National Curriculum has been modified over the past two decades to provide pupils with an introduction to the core knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It introduces pupils to the best that has been thought and said; and helps to create an appreciation of human creativity and achievement (DfE, 2013).

The National Curriculum acts a framework document (guideline) to education. According to Bourdillon and Storey, the school curriculum is more important than the National Curriculum since it includes all aspects of school life and organisation that affect teaching and learning, not just the content or syllabus (Bourdillon and Storey, 2002). Furthermore, the school curriculum tends to reflect upon the local community, parents, pupils and central government (Bourdillon and Storey, 2002).

The role of Design and Technology in the School Curriculum

Design and technology (D&T) was first introduced to the school curriculum in England and Wales in 1989 and is now firmly established as an important part of the curriculum in many countries (Owen-Jackson, 2008). The subject is set to introduce practical and technological skills through creative and innovative thinking (Owen-Jackson, 2002a). Using an activity-focused approach, a high-quality design and technology education is aimed to give the pupils opportunities to create, innovate, design, make and evaluate a variety of well-crafted products.

According to module 1A the main learning objective is to use critical and creative thinking whilst considering the latest technologies and the impact of future technological developments on the products and their purposefulness. Using the design and technology syllabus in conjunction with the school curriculum students are aimed to develop the thinking ability to improve quality of life and to solve problems as individuals and also as members of a team. Furthermore, D&T has its own distinctive knowledge, understanding and skills, as pupils are required to apply the skills, knowledge and understanding from other subjects, including Arts and Design, Mathematics and Science (Rutland, 2002).

The D&T syllabus meets these objectives by giving the students the opportunity to (DfE, 2013):
Understand food and nutrition and have the opportunities to learn how to cook.
Work in fields such as materials (including textiles), horticulture, electrical and electronics, construction, and mechanics, where they will develop valuable practical skills and use these safely with a range of resistant and non-resistant materials, drawing media, tools and equipment, in both 2-D and 3-D
According to the Department of Education the expected outcome is for students to be able to (DfE, 2013):
Develop confidence in using practical skills and become discriminating users of products.
Design and make well-crafted products that are fit for purpose.
Develop and use a range of common practical skills.
Understand and, where appropriate, use the design cycle of planning, developing prototypes, modifying, making and evaluating.
Know about good design, everyday products and use correct technical terminology.
Investigate the rich history of design and technological innovation in Britain and further afield, from the Industrial Revolution onwards, as well as current innovations.

Personal Experience of the impact of D&T onto the school curriculum

D&T has distinctive teaching aspects such that its model of teaching and learning not only draws upon different learning styles than other National Curriculum subjects, but also employs a richer range of learning styles (Kimbell and Perry, 2001).

During the first placement, some projects in Food Technology and Textiles were observed. Throughout, it was noted that the design loop was implemented (figure 1). In this model, the problem / idea were first highlighted and the students progressed through linear steps to a final solution / outcome
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Your subject in the curriculum

Different types of schools unit 6 Essays

of school including ownership, management, finance and curriculum they follow Primary (infants & Junior) Secondary: Primary schools cater for children aged 4-11. While at primary school, children start with the Early Years (Foundation) curriculum, followed by Key stage 1 and Key stage 2 of the national curriculum Secondary schools cater for children aged 11- 16 or 18. They take pupils through key stages 3 and 4 of the National curriculum The majority of state schools are maintained by the Local…

Words 1611 - Pages 7

Educ 5271 Unit 2

Written Assignment Unit 3 Reflections And Explorations on Case 12 1. Identify the most important facts surrounding the case. Focusing on all subject areas in a themed inquiry is unrealistic, as case 12.1, case 12.1A, and case 12.1B point out, in less time. Case 12.2, commentary 12.2A, and commentary 12.2B describe how teachers try to incorporate all subjects and their frustrations and personal experiences. Case 12.3, commentary 12.3A, and commentary 12.3B prove "Less Is Probably More" through accurate…

Words 2023 - Pages 9

ass of planet earth Essay

College Vs. High School Graduating high school is probably going to be one of your greatest life accomplishments. Walking across that stage to show that four years of hard work and dedication has lead you to this day, the day you can finally put those years behind you. Now what is life like after high school? You finally got into the college you wanted to be in and you find that it is on a whole new level from high school. Just what makes these two levels of education different from one another…

Words 646 - Pages 3

Education and Effective Pedagogy Essay

What challenges may you face in putting into practice, within Curriculum for Excellence, the principles and practice of effective pedagogy in Chemistry, about which I have been learning in class and your wider reading? Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) was introduced in public funded schools within all local authorities in Scotland with the main aim, to provide an improved, meaningful and more flexible curriculum to all children between 3 and 18 years, regardless their ability, background or race…

Words 1885 - Pages 8

Through: Education and History Essay

Part A: Curriculum Story Throughout the years of 2005-2010 I attended a public high school in a rather large country town. During my time there, the subject History was always very prominent, not deemed as important as Mathematics, English, and Science but at the very least from years 7-10 it was a compulsory subject. Students during those 7-10 years, including myself, showed very little interest in the subject – it was seen almost as another subject on the timetable. At the time…

Words 2489 - Pages 10

Notes On Selecting A Topic And Brainstorming Worksheet

and post as an attachment. |List two objects, people, subjects, or concepts you are going to | | |compare and/or contrast. |Home school versus public education | |What are the similarities between the two objects, people, |Both offer a wide variety of classes. Start at kindergarten and | |subjects, or concepts? List as many similarities as you can. |go…

Words 458 - Pages 2

Essay about 169299485 HUM 111 Education Critical Th

express it? O Is critical thinking important for children's education? O Should elementary curriculum include critical thinking as a focus? O Are children capable of critical thought? O Does including critical thinking, take away from the standard lessons? Methods to produce ideas to resolve this problem or issue: Positive Negative  Promotes thinking and  Reduces time given to reasoning ability other subjects  Helps solve problems  Difficult to teach in  Encourages questions isolation  Challenges…

Words 415 - Pages 2

Homeschool vs Public School Essay

children at home, rather than in public or even private schools. Home schooling greatly benefits many students and parents. Home school provides a flexible schedule for the child and the parent. If the child has problems in one subject they can spend more time on that subject then having to rush on to another one where the child is more proficient. Another great advantage of home schooling is the ability to build better relationships within the family. When being with the parents all day as a teacher…

Words 951 - Pages 4

Curriculum Development For Inclusive Practice

DTLLS UNIT 7 Assignment 1 & 2 Curriculum Development for Inclusive Practice ARINZE NWAGWU Content Pages The contexts in which education and training are provided 3 - 6 In the lifelong learning sector Theories, Principles and Models of Curriculum Design on Inclusive learning and 7- 11 Teaching in our learning environment. References 12 1. Understand contexts in which education and training…

Words 3832 - Pages 16

Standardized Testing In Schools Essay

In classrooms today, the main focus is on math, and reading because these subjects are on the standardized tests. Depending on the district and state, there may be outlines of the curriculum. For example, all of the elementary schools in Albany County’s district follow the same math outline. With this being said, I do think it is important to follow these outlines. When following these outlines it is important that teachers do not focus on the assessment. Teachers’ should be focused on the students’…

Words 489 - Pages 2