Upon completion the student is expected to be able to:

• to explain the role of curriculum in education and the principles that guide curriculum construction and implementation
• explore different aspects of curricula (explicit, hidden, absent)
• identify the demands that, political, economic, cultural and linguistic factors set on curriculum planning
• evaluate different student assessment methods

Contents:

• philosophical and pedagogical principles of curriculum planning and implementation
• recognizing diversity and differentiation in curriculum and assessment
• written, practiced, realized, experienced, assessed and hidden curriculum
• Finnish National Basic Education Core Curriculum and PYP and MYP curricula for International Schools
• Process of designing school based curriculum and individual education plans (IEPs)

Learning activities and teaching methods:

• Individual work will include pre-course reading assignment.
• Seminars will deepen the discussion on the topics introduced in the lectures. Working methods are varied and the seminars will be arranged utilizing activating teaching methods. Special attention is paid on the question of connecting theory and practice and work-life relevance.
• Method of assessment: Active participation in lectures and seminars and the assignment based on the lectures, seminars and study material.The assignment can be individual or group essay / individual or group book exam / learning journal / portfolio / other assignment given in the beginning of the course.
• Assessment criteria: The assessment criteria are based on the learning outcomes of the course.
• Read more about assessment criteria at the University of Oulu webpage.