Curriculum renewal processes pose significant challenges and demands fresh approaches at all levels of the education system. Shared understanding and commitment to the goals of the process are fostered by effective communication and responsive leadership. Across, and within organisations, positive professional relationships and effective networks encourage information exchange and collaborative working practices. It is hoped that this pack, when used as a capacity building tool with groups drawn from a variety of levels and organisations, may be a catalyst for the development of cross-cutting conduits for communication and cooperation.

• Aim
• Audience
• Approach
• Types of resources
• Modules
• Resource Pack

AIM

This resource pack aims to enhance individual and collective capacity of education specialists with decision-making, management, and operational functions and roles related to curriculum policy formulation, development, implementation , monitoring, evaluation and research.

The non-prescriptive comparative case study-based resources aim to provide curriculum specialists with greater insight and fuller understanding of curriculum policy and practice, to empower senior and middle level curriculum developers to make informed decisions, as well as to empower national curriculum specialists to counterbalance what is sometimes perceived to be donor-driven initiatives in curriculum reform.

AUDIENCE

The resource pack is primarily intended for professionals who train key curriculum developers involved in leading and facilitating curriculum change, performing any of the following functions:

Policy  

• Formulating vision for reform & identifying areas for change
• Consulting stakeholders
• Advocating and marketing reform

Design  

• Developing national curriculum frameworks and guidelines
• Restructuring and integrating curriculum content
• Localising curriculum content

Implementation

• Developing textbooks and teaching and learning materials
• Training inspectors, principals, and teacher trainers, teachers
• Establishing instructional support systems
• Ensuring coherence between teacher education and new school curricula

Research

• Curriculum evaluation, review and assessment
• Piloting curriculum innovation

Educationists, researchers, inspectors, principals, teacher trainers, teachers and other stakeholders interested in curriculum issues may also find the resource pack of use.

APPROACH

The approach adopted in the development and design of the resource pack may be characterised as:

Specialists with the support of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education in Geneva and the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok . It builds on the experience of senior curriculum specialists from within the region, as well as on international trends and issues of global concern.

Context-based
Illustrative cases from within and beyond the Asia-Pacific region provide insight on context-specific experiences of curriculum development.

Non-prescriptive
The materials provide multiple perspectives on curriculum processes and products worldwide and opportunities for comparative analysis

Linking global & local realities
The emphasis on the inter-play between global and local realities provides a sound understanding of national challenges within the content of regional and international trends in curriculum development.

Process-oriented
The modules highlight the dynamic link between vision & action and the inter-dependence between the processes & products that constitute curriculum development.

Integrated
Emphasis on an integrated approach to content and methods of learning through the lens of the four pillars of learning, inclusiveness, respect for social and cultural diversity, and gender mainstreaming.

Self contained
The resource materials are organised into self-contained modules (pull-out), user friendly/practical

Multi-media
The materials are available in print, on CD-Rom, and On-Line. On-line versions include curriculum Help functions, e-Learning modalities and will be linked to the Global Curriculum Development Network coordinated by UNESCO IBE.

Networking
The materials provide a framework for heterogeneous groups to engage in dialogue about curriculum renewal policies and processes, thereby promoting effective communication and collaborative working practices within and across organisations.

TYPES OF RESOURCES

Each module contains:

• Discussion papers
  A selection of discussion papers that provide insight and a general framework for approaching, analysing and understanding issues and their implications.
  
• Policy guidelines
  UNESCO policy guidebooks, guidelines and frameworks on a range of issues such as multilingualism, school health, HIV/AIDS prevention, science and technology education, and textbook development and which have direct implications for development of school curricula.
  
• Case studies
  Short case studies from within the Asia Pacific region and beyond providing insight into particular issues and challenges, and highlighting lessons learned in curriculum reform in specific contexts. A search function allows identification of case studies by country/region.
  
• Analytical tools
  Frameworks for policy analysis, curriculum review, contextual scans, monitoring bias in curriculum, textbooks and other learning materials, identification of good practice…
  
• Research studies
  Both full research papers and reports are provided as well as abstracts that highlight the main findings. These studies are also searchable by area or phase of curriculum development.
  
• Sample Curriculum Materials
  These include such sample materials as national curriculum frameworks and guidelines, syllabi, timetables, technical and pedagogical specification criteria for textbook development, evaluation and approval. A search function allows access to these sample materials by type or by country.
  
• Suggested Readings
  Lists of selected references for further reading and self study in particular areas of curriculum development and research.
  
• Asia Pacific Resource Institutions and Experts
  Additional resources for capacity building include a regional contact list of curriculum development and research institutions and experts.

MODULES

• Curriculum renewal: Processes and products
• Curriculum policy dialogue and formulation
• Curriculum design and integrated learning
• Localisation of curriculum and decentralisation
• Textbook development
• Training and capacity building
• Piloting and innovation
• Evaluation and assessment