College of Social Sciences and International Studies
Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design
Module EFPM311 for 2019/0
Module EFPM311 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
EFPM311: Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
- To introduce the construct of curriculum in education and TESOL
- To introduce a variety of approaches to syllabus design employed in foreign language teaching.
- To provide the tools students need to scrutinize and critically analyze teaching programmes used in student's current and future teaching contexts.
- To develop a good understanding of the role of the various participants in syllabus design, implementation and evaluation.
- To link theory to practice in the process of curriculum and syllabus development
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate understanding of the main elements of curriculum and syllabus design 2. critically evaluate a syllabus with reference to different approaches to syllabus design 3. critically reflect on the roles of various participants in the syllabus design process 4. apply tools to the design of a foreign language programme in a given socio-cultural setting |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. to learn both independently and co-operatively with peers from differing cultural and pedagogical backgrounds. This will be evidenced during group discussions and task completion 6. to listen actively and effectively 7. to give a presentation to an audience of peers drawing on an understanding of the academic literature as applied to practical teaching situations |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. to identify strategic options in the choices open to syllabus designers 9. to evaluate the relative success of different strategies and approaches to syllabus design 10. evaluate the merits of others' ideas |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Eight sessions of 2 hours each. The course is delivered in eight weeks;
- Definitions of curriculum and syllabus; broad and narrow definitions, and the relationship between syllabus and curriculum.
- A consideration of various aspects of syllabus design and the roles of different participants in these.
- The role of needs analysis in the curriculum development process
- An introduction to different approaches to syllabus design and underpinning theories of learning and language – including an examination of process and product orientated syllabuses and structural, procedural and negotiated syllabuses.
- The role of materials
- The role of testing and evaluation
- The role of programme evaluation and critical issues in curriculum and syllabus design
- Reflective discussion of student-led presentations on syllabi from different parts of the world
Assignment: Description and analysis of own syllabus in view of the elements of language syllabus discussed during this module. Critical reflection on elements of one's programme and discussion of suggested changes.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 135 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 15 | lectures and seminars |
| Guided independent study | 15 | directed reading |
| Guided independent study | 80 | self-study |
| Guided independent study | 40 | assignment preparation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
