Support teaching and learning in a curriculum area
Overview
Who is this unit for?
This unit is for those who work within a subject or curriculum area to support teaching and learning.
What is this unit about?
This unit is about developing and using subject knowledge and skills to support teaching and learning in a curriculum area. It does not, however, cover the specialist technical functions carried out by technicians, librarians and ICT professionals which are covered in separate sets of national occupational standards. Subject or curriculum area refers to all forms of organised learning experienced across the curriculum. For example, area of learning in the foundation stage, broad areas of curricular experience and learning through play in the early years, thematically structured work in the primary phase, single subjects, vocational subjects and cross-curricular work in the 14–19 phase.
This unit contains two elements:
1. Develop, use and improve your own subject knowledge to support teaching and learning
2. Develop and evaluate materials to support teaching and learning in a curriculum area
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Develop, use and improve your own subject knowledge to support teaching and learning
P1 monitor advances in knowledge and practice relevant to the subject area to a sufficient level to keep abreast of developments
P2 use evidence from your own and others' work to inform development of your own subject knowledge and skills
P3 use your subject knowledge as required to:
P3.1 contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of activities or lessons
P3.2 share subject knowledge with pupils, answer pupils' questions and address their errors or misconceptions
P3.3 develop and evaluate teaching and learning materials
P3.4 contribute to staff development activities
P4 carry out a realistic self-evaluation of your subject knowledge and skills
P5 seek and use feedback from teachers and others with whom you work
P6 identify any subject knowledge and skills that would help you to improve the support you provide to teaching and learning in the subject/curriculum area
P7 identify and use opportunities to improve your own subject knowledge and skills
P8 synthesise new knowledge and skills into your own practice and apply it to all areas of work in which it is relevant and likely to be effective
Develop and evaluate materials to support teaching and learning in a curriculum area
P9 clarify and confirm your understanding of the materials required and the deadlines for obtaining or producing the materials
P10 confirm with the relevant person that you understand what they require
P11 promptly refer any requests for materials to an appropriate person when you are unable to meet the user's requirements
P12 select appropriate sources to search for the information or materials required
P13 locate and obtain the information or materials and maintain a record of sources used
P14 examine, interpret and extract information relevant to the needs of the user(s)
P15 confirm that the information or material is fit for use and is what the user needs
P16 identify and/or prepare teaching and learning materials relevant to:
P16.1 the pupils' needs and interests
P16.2 the teaching and learning objectives of the subject/curriculum area
P16.3 the linguistic and cultural diversity of society
P17 present the materials in the most appropriate format, accurately and on time
P18 maintain accurate records of materials obtained and developed in accordance with school procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the relevant school curriculum and age-related expectations of pupils in the subject/curriculum area and age range of the pupils with whom you are working
K2 how the subject/curriculum area contributes to the overall education of the pupils, including cross-curricular learning
K3 the purpose and benefits of developing your own subject knowledge for yourself and for others
K4 how to monitor, reflect on and evaluate your own subject knowledge and skills
K5 how to keep your subject knowledge and skills up to date given other pressures on your time and resources
K6 how to access information, resources and development opportunities to improve your subject knowledge and skills
K7 how to use your subject knowledge and skills to support teaching and learning, including developing and evaluating teaching and learning materials
K8 the importance of confirming the teaching and learning materials required
K9 why it is important to establish realistic deadlines for providing information and materials
K10 how to deal with competing demands for information and materials
K11 the typical areas of interest of different people within the subject/curriculum area
K12 the kinds of requests for information and materials that lie outside of your own ability or responsibility to meet
K13 the importance of working within the boundaries of your role and competence and when you should refer to others
K14 what information and materials already exist within the subject/curriculum area and how to access and/or adapt these if appropriate
K15 relevant sources of information and materials for the subject/curriculum area and the age range of the pupils
K16 how to research information efficiently and accurately
K17 why you should maintain a record of sources of information that you have used and how to do so
K18 how to select and prepare teaching and learning materials to meet the needs of the pupils involved
K19 how to organise information for different audiences, eg. teachers, pupils of different ages and abilities
K20 how to identify and develop culturally and linguistically appropriate teaching and learning materials
K21 the school or department's procedures for maintaining records of the information and materials obtained and developed
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Materials information, written materials, software, books, DVDs, internet sources, etc that can be used to support teaching and learning in a subject/curriculum area
Opportunities to improve your own subject knowledge chances to develop your subject knowledge through, for example:
1. research
2. observing lessons
3. school-based development opportunities
4. external development programmes
5. journals and reports
Subject/curriculum covers all forms of organised learning experienced across the curriculum. For example, area of learning in the foundation stage, broad areas of curricular experience and learning through play in the early years, thematically structured work in the primary phase, single subjects, vocational subjects and cross-curricular work in the 14–19 phase, and including promotion of the qualities, attitudes and skills needed of motivated, engaged and successful learners
Users
the people who will use the materials to support learning, including teachers, support staff and pupils
Links To Other NOS
This unit focuses on specific-subject content and issues.
Planning, delivery and evaluation of learning activities is covered by the following units:
TDASTL1 Provide support for learning activities
TDASTL8 Use information and communication technology to support pupils' learning
TDASTL10 Support children's play and learning
TDASTL18 Support pupils' learning activities
TDASTL23 Plan, deliver and evaluate teaching and learning activities under the direction of a teacher
TDASTL24 Contribute to the planning and evaluation of teaching and learning activities
TDASTL27 Support implementation of the early years curriculum
Preparation of learning materials is also covered in:
TDASTL31 Prepare and maintain the learning environment