DMX1030: Critical Analysis of Curriculum Concepts & Effective Teaching

This essay presents a critical analysis of curriculum concepts within secondary school education, focusing on the role of an English teacher. It explores curriculum concepts such as hierarchy, power, values, stereotypes, labeling, and confidence, and their impact on students. The essay discusses the hidden curriculum and its influence on student learning, examining the effects of culture, politics, and laws. Furthermore, it analyzes professionalism factors within the educational setting, including teacher attitudes and research findings. The essay concludes by discussing the implications of the study in relation to curriculum concepts and their significance in improving teaching and learning processes. The document is contributed by a student and available on Desklib, a platform that provides study tools for students.

Running head: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CURRICULUM CONCEPTS
CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CURRICULUM CONCEPTS
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CURRICULUM CONCEPTS
Table of Contents
Introduction: the educational setting context...................................................................................2
Discussion of curriculum concepts..................................................................................................4
Critical exploration of professionalism...........................................................................................9
Critical analysis of effective teaching and learning.......................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................14
References......................................................................................................................................18

2CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CURRICULUM CONCEPTS
Introduction: the educational setting context
The study focuses on the various diverse aspects that tend to affect the curriculum of
various educational settings. The setting that is the focus of the study is secondary school
education. There is a need to evaluate the significant aspects of curriculum that is implemented
across the secondary schools for the better development of the students. Secondary education
comes directly after primary schooling. Secondary education in schools essentially take into
consideration the learning requirements of students between eleven to sixteen years of age after
which students usually graduate into either upper secondary or middle schools. This is an
important phase of the academic life of the student that acts as a kind of intermediary phase
between the primary and the higher education of the students. Students develop essential
knowledge base about the various subjects at this point in time in their academic lives. There are
mainly three core subjects at this phase of education. They are Mathematics, English including
literature and science. Science includes the study of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. There are
also subjects that are considered as the foundation subjects. These subjects range from music, art,
computer science to drama, PE, etc. Moreover, there are certain other subjects which students
chose as additional subjects. Hence, the curriculums are developed giving much importance to
these subjects through various phases. The students need to learn better and perform better at the
same time in order to prepare themselves for higher education (Illeris, 2018). The most important
aspect that needs to be developed by the students in this part of their academic endeavors is
generating greater understanding of the core subjects. This helps them to gain significant
momentum with respect to their school education.
The role of the English teacher is highlighted in this setting. The role of an English
teacher concerning this phase of the academic lives of the students is very important as both the

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speaking, reading and understanding abilities need to be essentially developed among the
students (Wyse et al., 2013). The major issue that arises concerning this role is helping students
learn all the different aspects of the language despite having a smaller scope of teaching within a
larger curriculum framework that covers various other subjects. This necessitates the
implementation of strong plans that are focused towards making the learning process easier and
compact at the same time. Moreover, there is a growing process of optimally integrating English
learning with the learning of the other subjects for the significant development of the students.
There is however a significant lack of teachers that is being witnessed across the various schools.
This contributes to the greater responsibility of the teachers. The role requires the ability to
develop effective plans for teaching the students. Additionally, there is room for implementing
more innovative approaches to teaching in the curriculum. This is mostly required to make the
students learn more effectively as quickly as possible. Apart from the requirement of effective
planning, the role requires excellent verbal and written communication. This can help in better
management of the students and guiding them in more effective ways. The teachers are required
to help the student attain a certain degree of efficiency in their study techniques. The teacher
should also have good understanding of the subject himself and develop ever better
understanding in the process.
The assignment will require the systematic critical analysis of the various aspects that are
related to curriculums. The overview and the introduction of the concept is provided at the
beginning. Moving forward, the concepts that comprise the curriculums are discussed. In this
section the most important factors that will be discussed are hierarchy, power, values, labelling,
stereotypes and confidence and their significant impact. The factors such as culture, politics and
laws on the same will be essentially discussed. Moving forward the following section will

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discuss and analyze the professionalism factors within the specific setting of education. The
working and professional attitudes of the teachers will be discussed in this section. The critical
analysis of the specific research that have taken place in regards to the subject will be given
moving forward. The context and outcomes will be provided subsequently. How these outcomes
affect the roles of the teachers and the learning process implementations will be discussed. The
implications of the study will be provided in the conclusion section. The implications will be
derived through the systematic analysis and evaluation of the entire study. The implications will
be derived in accordance with its significance in regard to the study of the curriculum concepts.
This would be the structure on which the study will be essentially based.
Discussion of curriculum concepts
The concept of curriculum encompasses the significant aspects that are connected with
the development of effective and efficient learning process. Curriculum refers to the course of
study with regards to the specific branches of study. It is normally implemented across the major
schools and colleges. It comprises of the courses of the particular study that have been selected
in the level of the academic endeavor. Previously, the concept of teaching was mainly focused
towards cultivating the common needs of all rather than nurturing the unique needs of the
students. However, the modern dimension of curriculum focus more towards the experiences that
comprise the learning of the students (Van Hoorn et al., 2014). Hence, it is important to note that
the modern curriculums reflect the needs for the optimal development of the individuals. The
curriculum concept in the country is greatly governed through the policies of the government.
This means that the government engages in taking essential decisions for helping the optimal
development of the students. Hence, in the UK government policies to a great extent affect the
growth of the students. The concept of curriculum depends on the various aspects that lead to the

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essential growth of the students. It should be remembered that the growth of the learner is central
to the concept of the curriculum. According to Roberts (2000) education comprises of many
aspects that tend to affect its progress. It is based on how effectively in the holistic sense people
can learn more. However, curriculums although are based on the effective learning needs of
people, are affected greatly by the number of different factors. These factors range between
social, political, value oriented, power oriented and other essential factors. It is important that all
the significant factors are considered before understanding the significant concept of education.
According to the views provided by Paolo Friere in 1973, the education sector sometimes
gets affected by misconceptions. Education in today’s world can sometimes be equated with
banking which comprises of trying to drill certain information into the minds of the students
(Gadotti & Torres, 2009). The drilling takes place always in accordance with plans that are laid
by some other people. Hence, learners often get treated as objects rather than individuals. This
leaves a gap in learning that can negatively contribute towards the developmental aspects of an
individual. This creates a kind of a hidden curriculum and affects the education system in
general. As opined by John Dewey (1916) education is a social process. He further stated that
education is a process of living rather than preparing for the future. This greatly governs the
learning of the people and necessitates the proper implementation of curriculums across the
academic institutions.
Hidden curriculum is the unwritten, unintended and greatly unofficial values that students
can learn through the curriculums that are present in their schools (Alsubaie, 2015). The above
mentioned concepts can be greatly related to the concepts that concern hidden curriculums.
While formal curriculum is more concerned about the skills and knowledge the students can get
from the curriculum, hidden curriculum refers to the relation that the learners essentially develop

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with their surroundings. The students develop certain relationships with their peers, teachers,
environment and other people that they come across in the learning process (West, Loftin &
Snyder, 2017). The aspect of hidden curriculums can greatly affect the secondary education of
the students. The secondary school years cover a significant part of the student lives of the
learners. The ages are between eleven to sixteen years. Breaking the schools into middle and
upper schools increases the prospects for students being affected by hidden curriculums. The
settings are normally of grammar schools and contribute towards the prospects of being affected
due to hidden curriculums.
Hierarchy- The concept of hierarchy is developed when the students move on to the years where
lesser play and more study happens. Hence, a hierarchical standard may be created on the basis
of classroom performance (Thomas, 2016). This gives rise to issues such as bullying in the
school premises. Similarly, in the English classes, students might develop negative dominant
traits and can disrupt the learning process.
Power- Power is generated when the teachers try to influence own line of thinking on the
students. Hence, what happens is that the students begin to learns what the teacher fits to be
correct rather than develop their own essential understanding. This can create favoritism and
generate nepotism in favor of some of the students (Alsubaie, 2015). In the English learning
process this can greatly contribute to the lower results of the children. It becomes important that
the children develop qualities that help them to rise above any power phenomenon that might be
created.
Values- Values are integral part of the hidden curriculums. Values are created through constant
intermixing of the students with each other and the teacher. Values can either be positive or

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negative depending on the kind of culture that is created among the students. This is an
important factor that can affect the language learning of the students. It becomes important that
the teacher induces good values through the English lessons that will be provided.
Confidence- Confidence is required on the part of both the teachers and students for ensuring the
effectiveness of the learning process. It is important that the teacher makes the students more
confident through effective means of guidance and communication. This is a significant factor
that can essentially affect the English learning exercise. The teacher needs to make the students
more confident towards understanding and developing their language skills. This will increase
the confidence levels concerning the other areas of learning as well.
Stereotypes- This is one of the significant hidden curriculum factor that affects the students. The
stereotypes are developed when there are a large number of diverse learners within a group. The
students tend to develop stereotypical opinions about each other. On a larger scale the students
can also develop stereotypes about the cultures and the learnings that they come across. This is a
factor that can also affect the English learning of the students. The students need proper guidance
in order to think outside the box and stop them from developing any misconceptions.
Labeling- Labelling is a factor that can be induced through the hidden curriculum. This means
that certain learners can be labelled for something. Hansson (2018) opines that labelling is a
significant part of the learning institution. Individual students are labelled in accordance with
their characteristics. This is a very complex process and can again lead to bullying and
stereotyping of individuals. The students in the English learning classes need to be given proper
instructions in regards to labeling. Otherwise the labeling can contribute to the development of
improper learning of the students.

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It has to be said that many times hidden curriculum adds to the difficulties that students tend to
endue in the course of their learning process. This means that the students can develop notions
that can hamper their overall growth. If not controlled or acknowledged properly hidden
curriculum can be significant hindrance to the learning process of students.
The significant factors of politics and culture need to be discussed further in relation to
hidden curriculum. Culture and politics greatly contribute to the curriculum of the various
institutions. According to Evans & Davies (2017) the institutions are greatly parts of the society
and the political situations of the countries where they are situated. Even with regards to the
English learning setting, culture and politics can contribute greatly. It need to be remembered
that the institutions are mostly inclined towards imparting education that promotes the
perspectives of the dominant culture. In case of the political scenario, education curriculum can
be heavily influenced or even tailor made to suit the political outlook of the nation (Badat, 2016).
Hence, culture and politics can both greatly affect the curriculums of the various institutions.
Politics contributes towards the curriculum by providing the perspectives of the learning of some
of the concepts that suit the general political inclinations of the country or the area. For example-
in case of the UK it has been noticed that the education regulations often affect the learning
aspects of the students. The schooling system is greatly monitored by the government. Hence,
what students will read and in which circumstances are greatly determined through the laws that
are formed. In many cases the religious identities of learners contribute greatly towards their
essential understanding of the various subjects (Stronge & Xu, 2016). Culture and politics can
greatly shape the understandings of the learners and the process through which knowledge is
imparted. Developing independent perspectives for imparting knowledge is thus required to
create an efficient learning environment.

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Critical exploration of professionalism
The education system of the UK greatly depends on teachers that mentor the students
from their nursery and primary education. The prevalence of Childminders is an important aspect
of the system. The function of these people are to mentor the child and make them ready for the
rest of their academic progress. A new concept that is being introduced is play based learning. In
order for the same efficient levels of professionalism is required to be nurtured within the
teachers. The roles of the Childminders need to be optimized in accordance of the changing
functions. Apart from providing knowledge and information. The new age professionals are
focusing on the development of character that will establish strong learning oriented behaviours
and approaches among the students. Over here, an important distinction is made between the
concepts of ‘knowledge’ and ‘information’ which is relevant to the field of education.
‘Information’ refers to the freely available host of data available to the individuals in this age of
globalized contemporary world (Arbuthnott & Krätzig, 2015). This information is available to
the individuals via the means of books, journals and internet websites among others.
‘Knowledge’ on the other hand, refers to the analysis done on this information. ‘Knowledge’
implies that simply garnering information from a variety of sources is not enough.
The emphasis is on the utilization of this information in such a manner that it helps in the
betterment and improvement of the human society. This can be done with the help of analysing
the provided information. In this respect, the position and role of a teacher becomes vital. It is the
teacher who has the training in providing essential training to the individuals who come before
the teachers to understand the working of the world and the human society. As opined by Cook-
Sather et al. (2015) the teacher is considered to be the repository of knowledge and possess the

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important criteria of being able to help the students to analyse the various available host of
information. The indispensable importance of the teachers lie in this scenario.
The significant duty and responsibility of the teacher necessitates the characteristic of
professionalism in them. Professionalism is a concept which refers to the impartial logical
behaviour of a person without being influenced by any personal factors such as that of love,
affection, jealousy and hatred among others. In other words, a teacher should be a professional
individual where he or she teaches the students without being affected by their personal lives or
allowing their personal lives to have an impact on the teaching method. This character of
professionalism needs to be imbibed in the educational sector from the first instance itself.
The educational sector can be divided in to several categories. First is the stage of
primary education. This continues till the class of three where students are taught the basic
things. They learn the alphabets and the numbers along with simple words. This changes in the
secondary level where a student is made to learn about the basis of the nature and the natural
structuring of things. They are also taught the important disciplines of history, geography,
mathematics and science which are essential for understanding the human society, the way it
came in to existence and the future developments of the society. This further changes in the
higher level of education where the field of the student narrows done to one particular speciality.
According to Patrick & Mantzicopoulos (2016) the responsibility of the teacher becomes much
higher in this level as it is imperative that the student gets a proper understanding of the
speciality he or she is studying in. At all these levels, the factor of professionalism is in
existence. However, complete professionalism can only be seen in an ideal state whereas the
reality perceived is quite different.

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The specified educational setting in this report is that of an English teacher teaching in
the secondary school. The characteristic of professionalism in this discipline and in this level
necessitates some modification. This is due to the fact that the children studying in this level are
still quite young, usually at the ages of eleven to sixteen. This is vital age of an individual as he
or she goes through massive changes during this time, both physical and mental. A student
spends maximum of their time in the educational institution. As a result, the impact of their
teachers is quite high in the life of a student (Yen & Halili, 2015). If a teacher maintains absolute
professionalism in their endeavour. Then the impact of a teacher will be quite less on the life of a
student. The teacher has the primary purpose of not only providing knowledge to the students,
but also to ensure that they grow up in to an ideal citizen. This means that they should be the
repository of values and traditions that make up the fundamental building blocks of the human
society.
The role of an English teacher is quite important in this respect. Through the study of
literature, a student understands the different values which made up the society in different
stages of human history. Literature is constantly evolving and it reflects the state of the human
society during that particular point of human civilisation. They are also the places where the
valuable human morals and values are inscribed in. The study of literature during secondary
school is significant as it will help the students to realise the particular way in which they are
supposed to behave (Kano et al., 2016). They will also understand the different ideal values
which are looked for in an individual. They will get the ideas of what is morally right and what
constitutes an immoral activity or thought. As such, in order to shape an individual, it is essential
for the teacher to have some amount of personal connections with the student. If the students can
make personal relatable experiences with the teachings of the teacher, then they will be able to