Curriculum Development
Mohammad Reza Yousefzadeh Chosary; Zohreh Karami
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was introducing threshold concepts and their status in disciplines, and then introducing these concepts as a new horizon for research in curriculum. Threshold concepts theory was initially introduced by Mayers & Land in 2003. This theory is endorsed by troublesome knowledge, ...
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The main purpose of this study was introducing threshold concepts and their status in disciplines, and then introducing these concepts as a new horizon for research in curriculum. Threshold concepts theory was initially introduced by Mayers & Land in 2003. This theory is endorsed by troublesome knowledge, variation and reconstructivist theories. Threshold concepts provide requirements for deep understanding of disciplinary knowledge. Without learning these concepts, learners will be unable to learn effectively. Mayers and Land have proposed different criteria for identifying threshold concepts, with the help of them, we can identify the concepts in curriculum. Threshold concepts are expected to help teachers to develop significant changes in curriculum. Research in threshold concepts was initially conducted in higher education. Since the learners’ previous experiences play an important role in studies around identifying threshold concepts, the phenomenological research method has been used in most of these studies. Also, to solve teaching and learning problems arisen from these concepts, instructors, teachers, and researchers are recommended to use methods such as action research and lesson study.
S.M. Sajadi; S.E. Hoseini
Volume 17, 3,4 , February 2011, , Pages 7-238
Abstract
This Article was developed for the purpose to exploration of Foucault’s anthropology and epistemology and to critic of it s implications for limits of duties and authorities of practitioners of schooling. In purpose to responding ...
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This Article was developed for the purpose to exploration of Foucault’s anthropology and epistemology and to critic of it s implications for limits of duties and authorities of practitioners of schooling. In purpose to responding this questions used inferential analytic and for gathering information the librarian method was used. The results made it clear that based on anthropology and epistemology of Foucault’s theory the following implications deducible. The aim of education is not discovering of meaning but it is “self creation. Education does not have fixed global foundations because the truth is temporal and plural. So the fixed and same methods are not acceptable. Based on Foucault’s pluralism, all cultures are placed in the center of attention of educational system. Foucault’s educational theory is antiauthoritarian so the interests of the member of community are paid attentions much as possible. Education should be critical. For this purpose teacher's statements or the texts are not considered as a holly issue. In education attention to “others” has basic rule. It means that teacher can inform the students from others cultures. Education is based on discourse. So to critique for the educational discourse we should discover hidden or events and bring them back in to the discourse. We should doubt in the intentions of truth. It means we should don’t think that education always try to obtain or discover of truth. Basic of Foucault’s methodological principles the students can know possible conditions of each era. And each era has special characteristics. So students won’t examine historical period with same criterion. Basic on Foucault’s perspective the government couldn't monopolize the education and it has superstructure rule. So education moves toward decentralization. Also in the field of tasks and authorities of administrator in education he and post modernism avoid to employ the “management” term instead they use “conduct” term Because in the humanistic relationship, conduct is dominated. So in the Foucault view the leader is selected by others base on situation. Thus in school all power is not focus in a person as administrator. Task and authority of teacher in education is criterion of transform and relationship between different subjects with waste social, political and economical problems and as an intellectual he will play the role of deconstruction in culture that lives in. But the most critical that inter to Foucault view is that domains of tasks and authorities of educational practitioners is not definite absolutely. So to obtain the educational purposes will be face to problem.
