Educational Continuum
Educational Continuum
Curriculum ● Content drawn from major ● Content orientated ● Curriculum provides ● Curriculum planning ● Curriculum planning is
Implications academic disciplines toward target opportunities for group involves identifying ideally carried out in
including literature, behaviour/specific task work, personal themes and opening conjunction with learners
science, mathematics, completion development and questions to initiate ● Curriculum content is
languages, history, art and ● Opportunities for exploration of personal, learner enquiry initiated primarily in
geography practicing new social and health issue ● Sleuthing activities, response to the questions
● Curriculum planning behaviour/task ● Personal reflection learning journey and raised by learners
provides opportunity for ● Opportunities to review exercises discovery activities ● Curriculum direction is
extended research into and gauge competency. ● Art, drama and craft tasks ● ‘Real world’ experiences; focused on creating a
specific subject areas ● Regular feedback on used for personal outdoor education, role critique of context of the
● Curriculum content skillfulness exploration and expression play learner
includes theoretical ideas ● Provide ‘real-life’
and meta-perspectives on scenarios incorporating
academic discipline, ie. use of real
history of ideas, key figures material/equipment
● The curriculum objective is
to increase capacity for
reason and intellect
Role of Educator The Academic Technical Expert/Instructor The Guide The Facilitator The Catalyst
Role of Learner The Scholar The Apprentice The Emergent Self The Problem Solver The Co-creator
Relationship If done well the impact of the If done well the educator If done well the impact of the If done well the impact of the If done well the educator role
implications educator can enthuse and motivates the learner to want educator is that the learner educator is that the learner becomes assimilated within
inspire providing a powerful to practice and become feels noticed and affirmed. feels increasingly the group process. In other
role model. The process can accomplished in the target They have a sense that autonomous, committed to words teaching and learning
draw out learner interest in skill. Role modeling someone is looking out for change, and has a belief in become verbs and not
specific subjects that competency can be powerful them and is available for their own sense of agency. ascribed roles.
encourages confidence and for learners. support. The educator is a welcome However, without careful
embed knowledge and However, if the educator lacks However, there is a potential motivator for inquiry and a monitoring the learner can
understanding. patience, the ability to contain for intrusion and smothering. co-collaborator in feel abandoned and confused
However, unless the content learner frustration, then they Care must be taken not to problem-solving. due to the lack of structure
can be effectively are at risk of ‘leaving the reduce the autonomy/choice However, without sufficient (similar to the Progressive
communicated, the process learner behind’. The learner making of the learner. structure and containment the method). In addition the
can rapidly become turgid becomes disaffected at not Co-dependency is likely where learner experiences educator can be experienced
within 20mins. leading to believing in their potential to the educator is too invested in abandonment and falls into as withholding (necessary
learner disengagement. become skillful. the process. confusion. information which the student
does not have)
Advantages Encourages learning for Encourages learning to Encourages learning to realize Encourages learning to bring Encourages learning to bring
learning’s sake innovate and modernise self-actualisation about reform about freedom; liberation
pedagogy
Limitations Elitism: the learner’s Reductionist; the learner is Indulgence; the learner Confusion; this approach can Problematising the social
experience, qualities, curiosity recognized solely on the basis regards personal growth and be a default for an educator context can overlook possible
are discounted of performance. needs as the sole focus of the inexperienced in managing organic (internal) student
process process, leading to unhelpful challenge/needs. This can be
lack of direction for the especially the case when
learner working with children and
young people who may have
diverse developmental needs
Underlying The theory of social A theory of social A theory of social A theory of social A theory of social
model/philosophy development which underpins development that emphasizes development based on full development orientated to development is based on
the concept of a civilized usefulness – utilitarianism. realization of individual social change and democracy. social transformation
society. People become free Society requires that people potential. The collective The intention is that
from ignorance through can ‘run the world’; make it experience is best achieved sustainable equality and
education, mitigating the work. where individuals feel safe and justice is created when
potential for fundamentalism attached to self and the world individuals can think for
themselves, work
collaboratively to solve issues
inherent in social discourse
Theorists/references H Arendt; F Furedi Vocational education; C. Rogers; A. Maslow Dewey; G.Dennison J.Mezirow; P. Freire;
technical college; FE model De-schoolers inc. I. Illich; J.
Holt
Student Edition This is about learning This is about learning how to This is about you growing as a This is about discovering how This is about creating new
knowledge do things person to solve real life challenges ideas, ways of working and
Examples: when you find out Examples: when you learn Examples: when you explore and problems how to be part of a group
stuff about things you didn’t how to do a particular skill like who you are as a person, what Examples: when you are Examples: where you and the
know before; how things work, play a sport, or become really it feels like to be you in becoming really good at group set out to change
why and how ideas are good at playing an instrument different situations, how to solving problems that come up something, or create
connected or perform well in get the best out of in your learning; doing project something new; activities
examinations relationships and become you work that explores a theme where you and your fellow
at your very best whilst that you are curious about students are in charge of the
knowing how to deal when agenda – school council?
things are not going so well
Notes:
1. The most important thing to bear in mind is that any point on the continuum has validity. It is the wider contextual contract demands that are critical in determining the relative usefulness of each type of learning. In other words, the contract between the
learners and educator is predominantly influenced by what the school permits.
2. Responding to inspection requirements can be plotted across all points on the continuum. Each type of learning can be demonstrated at an outstanding level, but it must be remembered that inspection by definition is underpinned by a technological frame of
reference.
3. Building a compendium of locally-grown practice, illustrating what is already taking place at the school/training establishment, is an important first step in making the continuum more relevant.