Student-centred curriculum integration in primary schools: Nurturing democratic citizenship in Aotearoa New Zealand

Article

Dowden, Tony, Brough, Chris and Fogarty-Perry, Barbara. 2024. "Student-centred curriculum integration in primary schools: Nurturing democratic citizenship in Aotearoa New Zealand." Curriculum Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41297-024-00234-1
Article Title

Student-centred curriculum integration in primary schools: Nurturing democratic citizenship in Aotearoa New Zealand

ERA Journal ID20579
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsDowden, Tony, Brough, Chris and Fogarty-Perry, Barbara
Journal TitleCurriculum Perspectives
Number of Pages11
Year2024
PublisherSpringer
Place of PublicationAustralia
ISSN0159-7868
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s41297-024-00234-1
Web Address (URL)https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41297-024-00234-1
Abstract

This article investigates how James A. Beane’s model of student-centred curriculum integration (CI) enhances students’ learning experiences in the classroom by meeting diverse learning needs and fostering democratic citizenship. It discusses the theory of Beane’s model of CI with respect to John Dewey’s underpinning philosophy of democratic education and explores the practice of Beane’s model via the narratives of two of the authors who implemented the model in primary schools in Aotearoa/ New Zealand (NZ). The findings show that implementing student-centred CI in contexts that are meaningful and relevant to students has the capacity to enhance the value and impact of students’ learning experiences. In the process, the democratic design of Beane’s model allows issues of social justice, inclusion and multiculturalism to be tackled by giving students agency and enabling them to ‘make a difference’ within their communities.

KeywordsDemocratic curriculum · Curriculum integration · Personal integration · Social integration · Integration of knowledge · Student-centred curriculum design
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390102. Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Southern Queensland
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