Department of Curriculum
We offer expertise in English literacies and language education, as well as in the creative and performing arts in UNE’s teacher education programs.
We’re passionate about creative expression, languages and communication and how these fields can assist children to develop and thrive in their learning and interactions. Our creative arts expertise spans drama, music, art and dance education across the primary and secondary curriculum.
Underpinning our language and literacy teaching is a robust understanding of how language works, how language supports learning, and the role of creativity and social interaction in teaching literacy to young learners, English education in primary and secondary education and teaching English as a second or other language or dialect. We celebrate and support language diversity, multilingualism, and a multimodal approach to learning.
Our values of equity, diversity, creativity and social interaction in learning are reflected in our research endeavours.
Our subject areas
Our courses deliver quality creative arts programs for students from K-12, and a range of perspectives for teaching the English language, literacies and literature, or teaching English as an additional language.
Students can also learn to teach a European or Asian language through our fully online language offerings.
Creative and performing arts education
English, literacies and language education
Our partnerships
Our partnerships afford students the opportunity to come in contact with diverse educational contexts, offering a richer view of practice. These partnerships also allow our academic staff to gain further insights in diverse education practice, supporting both our research and teaching practice. Our education students have a wonderful opportunity to gain a first-hand insight into the diversity of cultures within China and compare the similarities and differences of educational practices in the country. Minzu University of China We have student exchange programs with Minzu University of China. It is located in China’s capital city Beijing. As a world-ranked university, it is particularly well regarded in research in minority nationalities, languages and cultures and rural education. Chifeng University Chifeng University is located in Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia, China. The university has a fine reputation for minority nationalities and rural education and teacher education. Project leader: Dr Zuocheng Zhang The Asia ConneXions program Our researchers are enabling more regional schools who may not be able to experience cultural exchange to connect with children in classrooms across the world without leaving the room. Using videoconferencing and online discussions, Australian students can see and speak to their peers in Asian classrooms, and vice versa, to gain an understanding of another culture and develop real personal connections with students from other parts of the world. Each year, the Asia ConneXions program connects 100 schools – that is, 50 Australian and 50 Korean schools, through videoconferencing to enhance the values and attitudes of Australian and Asian school students. The Asia ConneXions program is one of the five major projects at the SiMERR National Research Centre. Project leader: Dr Myung-Sook Auh Pathways to university for the secondary school students and young people in the Armidale Ezidi community We support newly arrived Ezidi refugees in the Armidale community by offering a funded short course for secondary school aged individuals and young adults, to equip them with the skills and knowledge to be able to go on to university study. This project supports participants with English language learning, information technology use, cultural awareness and tertiary preparation. Our project coordinators work in collaboration with UNE English Language Centre, Sport UNE, Armidale Secondary College, Settlement Services International, Armidale Sanctuary, Department of Human Services and Armidale TAFE. Several project participants have already commenced studies at UNE, while the remainder will complete the program with a clear pathway towards studying at UNE in the future to achieve their dream of gaining qualifications in fields such as nursing, teaching, medicine, business, psychology, agriculture and law. This project is funded by the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP). Program leaders: Associate Professor Susan Feez and Dr Helen Harper, in collaboration with colleagues from the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Associate Professor Liz Ellis and Dr Isabel Tasker.
Projects and activity
We are proud to draw on our expertise, experience and ongoing communication with stakeholders to support and advance the education profession through a range of leadership roles and activities. Our staff hold a number of leadership positions on national education boards and associations. These roles demonstrate our close links with teachers and schools and ensures two-way communication from department members to the wider teaching and learning profession. Positions currently held include: Many researchers in our department have been appointed to editorial review panels, which is testament to their academic expertise and national leadership across a range of specialty subject areas. Our researchers currently sit on the following journal review boards:
Literacy
Contact us
To find out more about our department, please contact:
Head of Department, Curriculum
Associate Professor Leonardo Veliz
Email: eduhod-curric@une.edu.au
