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ERIC Number: EJ1172391
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Feb-10
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1529-8094
EISSN: N/A
"Content without Context Is Noise": Looking for Curriculum Harmony in Primary Arts Education in Western Australia
Chapman, Sian; Wright, Peter; Pascoe, Robin
International Journal of Education & the Arts, v19 n2 Feb 2018
Arts education in Western Australian primary schools consist of learning opportunities outlined by mandated curriculum. However, assumptions underlying this curriculum involving access, resources and support impact schools' capacity to implement the curriculum without them being adequately addressed by the written curriculum. Drawing on the policy enactment theory of Ball, Maguire, and Braun (2012), four contextual variables (situated contexts, professional cultures, material contexts and external factors) are used to highlight the differences between the written published curriculum and the implemented, practised curriculum. Drawing on interviews with 24 participants across four schools issues of geographic location, use of arts specialists, appropriate learning spaces and the stresses associated with mandated literacy and numeracy testing are reported as contextual pressures by this study. This paper details the disruptive interference of these contextual pressures that we describe as 'noise.' The provision of a better understanding of this contextual landscape brings schools and teachers away from the 'noise' of disruption and closer to curriculum harmony.
International Journal of Education & the Arts. 1310 South 6th Street, Champaign, IL 61820. Tel: 402-472-9958; Fax: 402-472-2837; Web site: http://www.ijea.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A