Curriculum and Assessment

Curriculum and Assessment is one element of the Inclusive Curricula & Teaching model developed by SCU, based on the literature and insights from students and staff. Curriculum and Assessment is located within the first key enabler identified by the research for student success within the teaching context: Powerful Design.

The curriculum and assessment design lays the foundation for what and how much will be taught, and how the students' progress will be judged. An effective and powerful design supports motivation, retention and high levels of achievement.

Key ways to design powerful curriculum and assessments

Curriculum and assessment design challenges

In early 2014, SCU staff were asked what challenges inclusivity held for them in designing their curriculum and assessments. The staff identified three key areas of challenge:

designing for diverse levels of student readiness
designing for students with vastly different backgrounds, experiences and language abilities, and
designing for students who are juggling the demands of study and life.

See the students' thoughts on curriculum and assessment design which they felt would help their learning. The postcard details have been taken from the survey comments as expressed by the students.

Postcards

Inclusive curricula Levels of readiness postcard front 1 — Levels of readiness postcard front (Artist: Carla Dawes)

Inclusive curricula Levels of readiness postcard Stdv 1 — Levels of readiness - Student voice

Inclusive curricula Differing backgrounds postcard 1 front — Differing backgrounds postcard front (Artist: Carla Dawes)

Inclisive Curricula Differing backgrounds staff voice postcard — Differing backgrounds - Staff voice

Inclusive Curricula Differing backgrounds student voice postcard — Differing backgrounds - Student voice

Inclusive Curricula Juggling life and study postcard front — Juggling life and study postcard front (Artist: Carla Dawes)

Inclusive Curricula Juggling life and study postcard staff voice — Juggling life and study - Staff voice

Inclusive Curricula Juggling life and study postcard student voice — Juggling life and study - Student voice

Funding for the Inclusive Curricula and Teaching Project (2013 - 2014) was provided by the Commonwealth Government's Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP).