Details for Curriculum Development in Christian Schools

In this subject, students explore curriculum as a human construct that shapes the teaching and learning of created realities through particular worldview lenses. Applying knowledge of various curriculum approaches, they select criteria for biblically faithful curriculum development and use these in the critical evaluation of curriculum documents.

Readings on collegial curriculum development lead to a final learning task in which students investigate the benefits and challenges of curriculum development in communities of practice. They critically reflect on alignment with the biblical story,, reviewing and developing a curriculum unit relevant to their context and making future recommendations for their school community. On completion of this subject students will be equipped with knowledge and skills in curriculum design, enabling them to contribute education that is transformational.

Awards offering Curriculum Development in Christian Schools

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Graduate Certificate in Education*
• Master of Education*

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Demonstrate specialised knowledge of the theories and practices underpinning curriculum design and development.
2. Critically analyse and evaluate the influence of worldviews and cultural trends on school-based and government mandated curriculum.
3. Articulate and justify biblically faithful principles for curriculum design and development.
4. Apply principles of biblically faithful curriculum design to the development or review of curriculum.
5. Critically reflect on the development of curriculum within communities of practice.

Subject Content

1. Understanding the nature of curriculum: Overview of definitions and development of curriculum as a concept
2. Deciding what will be taught, and how: The place of curricula in the Christian teacher’s classroom practice
3. Evaluating curriculum: A biblical basis for understanding criteria for evaluating and reviewing curricula
4. Curriculum models and frameworks: An overview of curriculum theory, models and frameworks
5. Outcomes, objectives, and learning intentions: Approaches to purposeful curriculum design
6. School-based curriculum development: Planning and preparing a school’s curricula using original or context-specific curricula and commercial curricula
7. Collaborative practices in curriculum development: Approaches to collaborative teamwork by teachers for curriculum development
8. Christian teachers as curriculum developers: Summary, and significance of curriculum development to the classroom practice of Christian teachers

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Face-to-Face
• Distance/ Global Online
• Intensive 

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

• Critical Reflective Pieces (20%)
• Curriculum Framework Analysis (35%)
• Curriculum Design (45%)

Prescribed Text

• Dickens, K., Hanscamp, M., Mustin, A., Parker, C., Stok, J. & White, T. (2017). Transformation by design: A curriculum development resource for Christian schools: The big picture. National Institute for Christian Education.
• Badley, K. (2019). Curriculum planning with design language: Building elegant courses and units. Routledge.