Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time
Offering differentiated courses to cater for a wide range of ability can lead to "dumbing down" when brighter students choose easier courses, which they can handle well without undue effort. This occurred when differentiated English courses were introduced in the senior secondary certifica...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Arizona State University
2005-01-01
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| Series: | Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| Online Access: | http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/107 |
| _version_ | 1818157682957221888 |
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| author | Gordon Stanley Robert G. MacCann |
| author_facet | Gordon Stanley Robert G. MacCann |
| author_sort | Gordon Stanley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Offering differentiated courses to cater for a wide range of ability can lead to "dumbing down" when brighter students choose easier courses, which they can handle well without undue effort. This occurred when differentiated English courses were introduced in the senior secondary certificate in the state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia. To avoid this trend continuing, new differentiated courses reported on a common scale were developed. At the same time a new preparatory course was provided to support weaker students to achieve the minimal standard in English. The resulting reform has led to stronger outcomes in English and increasing numbers of students taking more demanding courses. Defining clear standards on a common scale has led to better achievement for all students without having an adverse effect on participation in the senior secondary certificate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:18:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42ee15c92dbc4a299951132d701585f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1068-2341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:18:05Z |
| publishDate | 2005-01-01 |
| publisher | Arizona State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| spelling | doaj.art-42ee15c92dbc4a299951132d701585f42022-12-22T01:00:29ZengArizona State UniversityEducation Policy Analysis Archives1068-23412005-01-01132Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study TimeGordon StanleyRobert G. MacCannOffering differentiated courses to cater for a wide range of ability can lead to "dumbing down" when brighter students choose easier courses, which they can handle well without undue effort. This occurred when differentiated English courses were introduced in the senior secondary certificate in the state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia. To avoid this trend continuing, new differentiated courses reported on a common scale were developed. At the same time a new preparatory course was provided to support weaker students to achieve the minimal standard in English. The resulting reform has led to stronger outcomes in English and increasing numbers of students taking more demanding courses. Defining clear standards on a common scale has led to better achievement for all students without having an adverse effect on participation in the senior secondary certificate.http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/107 |
| spellingShingle | Gordon Stanley Robert G. MacCann Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time Education Policy Analysis Archives |
| title | Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time |
| title_full | Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time |
| title_fullStr | Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time |
| title_short | Removing Incentives for "Dumbing Down" Through Curriculum Re-structure and Additional Study Time |
| title_sort | removing incentives for dumbing down through curriculum re structure and additional study time |
| url | http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/107 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gordonstanley removingincentivesfordumbingdownthroughcurriculumrestructureandadditionalstudytime AT robertgmaccann removingincentivesfordumbingdownthroughcurriculumrestructureandadditionalstudytime |