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Evaluation of the new curriculum reform (EDUCATE)

EDUCATE conducts research and evaluation on the new curriculum reform in the subjects related to life skills, exploration and digital competence. The project is funded by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training. 

Picture from a classroom with students on their deskwith portraits of the researchers in EDUCATE (Photo collage by S. Colvin/UV. Photo: UV/private).

EDUCATE involves a large team of researchers with expertise within educational research and a range of subjects (Photo: Colourbox).

About the project

EDUCATE is an evaluation of how the curricular renewal is operationalised in the school subjects. The project will conduct comparative classroom studies in primary, lower and upper secondary school over time and across school reforms (LK06 and LK20). 

EDUCATE aims to develop understanding of how teachers include life skills, exploration and digital competence in the subjects English, religion, mathematics, science, Norwegian, social studies and German. We aim to carry out systematic video observations of classroom teaching in the same classes over time at schools in different parts of the country, combined with student surveys and teacher interviews.

Sub-projects

EDUCATE is organised into foursub-projects. In addition, two public sector ph.d. projects and one post doctoral project are connected to EDUCATE:

Sub-project 1: Observing the national curriculum in the classroom and teachers’ professional community

Sub-project 1 investigates how the new national curriculum is implemented in the classroom and how it connetcs to teachers’ professional development.

Report 1 was published January 2023: Observing the Curricular Reform in the classroom. Observation protocols for life skills, exploration and digital competence.

Sub-project 2: Various perspectives on life skills in the classroom across seven subjects

Sub-project 2 examines how teachers implement life skills in the subjects and in the classroom.

Report 2 was publihed June 2023: How to master life in 8th grade. Various perspectives on life skills in the classroom across seven subjects.

Sub-project 3: Exploration

Sub-project 3 examines how teachers use exploration in the subjects and in the classroom.

Report 3 will be published December 2023.

Sub-project 4: Digital competence and algorithmic thinking

Sub-project 4 examines how teachers work to develop students’ digital competence, how digital competence is realised through teaching practices in subjects, as well as teachers and students’ experiences of such practices over time.

Report 4 will be published December 2024.

Public sector ph.d: (digital) life skills

PhD candidates: Ingrid Evertsen and Anja Isaksen

The two public sector ph.d. projects are financed by Research Council Norway (RCN) for the period 2022-2026, in collaboration with Oslo Municipal Officer/Marienlyst school and Viken municipality/Strømmen upper secondary school. Both doctoral projects investigate how life skills is taught in school subjects, specifically in English, in relation to the new curriculum reform in Norway (Fagfornyelsen).  

Read more about Ingrid Evertsen's project: Life skills in secondary school. A comparative study of teaching and competence from different perspectives.

Read more about Anja Isaksen's project: Life skills and digital competence in upper secondary school in light of the new curriculum reform.

 

Postdoctor: Exploratory literature teaching over time

Postdoctor: Katherina Dodou

Objectives

  1. develop knowledge of how the realisation of live skills, exploratory work and digital competence in the new curriculum influences and potentially changes classroom practices,
  2. develop new and sought after knowledge of how teachers conduct their teaching of exploratory practices and digital competence in naturally occurring instruction,
  3. examine the experiences with such practices among students and teachers, and
  4. identify teacher and student perspectives on changes in teaching practices to suggest implications for future practice.

Financing

EDUCATE is funded by the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (2021-25).

Published July 7, 2021 11:40 PM - Last modified Mar. 18, 2024 12:52 PM

Contact

Lisbeth M. Brevik
Project leader

E-mail: educate-prosjektet@ils.uio.no

Resource team

Participants

Detailed list of participants