CSP4801/101/0/2023

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2023

Curriculum Studies and Psychology of

Education

CSP4801
Year Module

Department of Curriculum and Instructional

Studies

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, CSP4801-2023-0, as well as your group website.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Getting started .............................................................................................................................. 4
2 OVERVIEW OF CSP4801 ............................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Outcomes: .................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................... 6
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 7
4.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 7
4.1.1 Curriculum Studies Section ........................................................................................................... 7
4.1.2 Psychology of Education Section .................................................................................................. 7
4.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 7
4.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 7
5 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 7
5.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 7
5.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 8
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 8
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 9
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme................................................................................................ 10
7. STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 10
8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE .......................................................................................................... 11
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ..................................................................................... 11
9. ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 12
9.1 Assessment criteria (see 2.2) ...................................................................................................... 12
9.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 12
9.3 Turnitin........................................................................................................................................ 12
9.4 Assessment due dates ................................................................................................................ 13
9.5 Submission of assessments ........................................................................................................ 13
9.6 The assessments ........................................................................................................................ 14
9.7 Invigilation/proctoring .............................................................................................................. 15
10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ........................................................................................................ 15

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10.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................... 15
10.2 Cheating ..................................................................................................................................... 16
11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES .................................................................................. 16
12. IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 16

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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

We are pleased to welcome you to the module Curriculum Studies and Psychology of Education
and hope that you will find it interesting, useful, inspiring and rewarding. The module explores
the integrated nature of curriculum, learning and teaching. It will provide a base from which we
can interrogate the roles of the teacher as interpreter of learning programmes and materials,
assessor and learning mediator. We shall do our best to make your study of this module
successful. You will be well on your way to success if you start studying early in the year and
resolve to do the assignments properly.

CSP 4801 is a fully online module. You will need to visit the module site for the study material
and other important information. Your assignments will be submitted via myUnisa.

This tutorial letter, Tutorial Letter 101, contains important information about the assignments for
this module. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand when working through the
study material, preparing the assignments, and addressing questions to your lecturers. This
tutorial letter also provides all the information you need with regard to the prescribed study
material and other resources and how to obtain them. Please study this information carefully
and make sure that you obtain the prescribed material as soon as possible. We have also
included certain general and administrative information about this module. Please study each
section of the tutorial letter carefully.

We hope that you will enjoy this module and wish you all the best!

Because this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
learning activities for this module. Visit the website for [module code] on myUnisa frequently.
The website for your module is [the module website code written out in full, eg CSP4801-23-Y].

1.1 Getting started

Owing to the nature of this module, you can read about the module and find your study material
online. Go to the website at https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in using your student number and
password. Click on "myModules" at the top of the web page and then on "Sites" in the top right
corner. In the new window, click on the grey Star icon next to the modules you want displayed
on your navigation bar. Close the window in the top right corner. Then select the option
"Reload to see your updated favourite sites". Now go to your navigation bar and click on the
module you want to open.

We wish you every success with your studies!

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2 OVERVIEW OF CSP4801
2.1 Purpose

In this module, you will be required to investigate the dynamic interrelationship between
teaching, learning and knowledge. The purpose of this module is to provide you with a profound
understanding of curriculum and learning theory and to introduce you to a wide range of
discourses that will enable you to develop innovative and contextually relevant responses to
teaching and learning issues.

2.2 Outcomes:

The purpose of this module is to provide students with a deep understanding of teaching and
learning theory and introduce them to a range of readings to enable them to develop innovative
and contextually relevant responses to teaching and learning issues. Students are required to
investigate and interrogate knowledge and skills related to the dynamic interrelationship
between teaching, learning and assessment.

Specific Outcome 1: Interpret individual learning contexts

Assessment Criteria
• describe concepts of intelligence
• identify and define the development of an individual learner
• critically reflect on and discuss the physical, cognitive, emotional and moral
development in developmental phases
• select, sequence and pace learning by being sensitive to the different needs of
learners
• investigate different theories of how learners learn at different ages
• identify potential causes of success or failure in typical learning processes
• critically reflecting on how race, class, gender, language, culture and other differences
impact on learning and propose guidelines to address these
• apply problem-based learning in a classroom situation
• reflect on motivating learners
• contextualise learning by considering the input of other modules in this programme
and describe strategies to identify and solve related issues

Specific Outcome 2: Understand curriculum theories, the process of curriculum

development and be able to relate it to practice with contextual input from the other
modules of this programme

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 Assessment Criteria:
• interpret and evaluate curricula through analysis of underlying theories
• discuss the contextual relevance of a curriculum for South Africa by considering social,
historical and philosophical issues
• analyse curriculum practice and propose changes where necessary
• critically discuss programme design, implementation and dissemination of curricula
• critically analyse different programmes in real contexts and through case studies
• describe the curriculum in practice by referring to teaching and learning
• explore alternative assessment methods of teaching and learning and describe how
these should be implemented

Specific Outcome 3: Interpret research with regard to teaching and learning issues
considering the influence and relationship of the various disciplines.

Assessment Criteria:
• use appropriate resources and draw upon applicable vocabulary to evaluate
curriculum and learning discourses
• identify psychology of education issues
• submit a formative assessment task that reflects on specialised knowledge of, and the
ability to interpret basic research in: the development of the learner; the concept of
intelligence and language acquisition; learning and development theories; learner
variability or cultural diversity as well as curriculum related issues.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed
curriculum transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation
includes student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment
practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies
and philosophies. All of these will be phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a
result of this you will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented
by Unisa, together with the way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way
within the framework of transformation

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4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

4.1 Lecturer(s)

4.1.1 Curriculum Studies Section

If you experience any problems with academic work, e.g. with the content of the module or the
prescribed book (du Preez & Reddy: 2014) you can contact the following lecturer:

Prof P Biccard
6-67 Nkoana Simon Radipere Building
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 012 429 6634

4.1.2 Psychology of Education Section

If you experience any problems with academic work, e.g. with the content of the prescribed
book (Woolfolk) you can contact the following lecturers:

Dr A Nsamba
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 012 337 6032

4.2 Department

You can contact the Department of Curriculum and Instructional studies as follows:

Telephone number: 012 429 4033

E-mail: [email protected]

4.3 University

Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include the student number in all correspondence

5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book(s)

You have two prescribed books for this module and you need to buy both for this module:

[1] Du Preez, P., & Reddy, C. 2014. Curriculum Studies: visions and imaginings. Cape
Town: Pearson.

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[2] Woolfolk, A. 2020. Educational Psychology, UNISA CUSTOM EDITION (2nd Edition).
Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. [The first edition of the Unisa Custom book may also be
used]

5.2 Recommended book(s)

Booyse, C. 2017. Curriculum Studies: Development, interpretation, plan and practice. Pretoria:
Van Schaik. 9780627035876.

Eloff, I., & Swart, E. 2018. Understanding Educational Psychology. Cape Town: Juta.
9781485102472 Landsberg, E. 2019. Addressing Barriers to Learning: a South African
Perspective. Pretoria: Van Schaik. 9780627036507.

Recommended books can be requested online, via the Library catalogue.

5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

Council for Higher Education. 2017. Decolonising the curriculum: stimulating debate. Briefly
Speaking, 3: 1-12.

Marfo, K. 2011. Envisioning an African Child Development Field. Child Development

Perspectives 5 (2): 140–147.

Nsamenang, A. B. 2006. Human ontogenesis: An indigenous African view on development and

intelligence, International Journal of Psychology, 41(4): 293-297.

Nsamenang, A. B. 2008. Culture and human development, International Journal of

Psychology, 43(2): 73-77.

Nsamenang, A. B. & Tchombe, T. M.S. 2011. Handbook of African Educational Theories and
Practices: A generative teacher education curriculum.

E-reserves can be downloaded from the library catalogue. More information is available at:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request

5.4 Library services and resources

The Unisa library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance

• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (e.g. the services offered by personal librarians and
the request a literature search service offered by the information search librarians), go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support

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• For library training for undergraduate students, go to

https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training

The library has created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

• Request and find library material/download recommended material:

http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
• A–Z of library databases:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php

Important contact information:

• Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services: Lib-
[email protected]
• General library-related queries: [email protected]
• Queries related to library fines and payments: [email protected]
• Social media channels: Facebook: UnisaLibrary and Twitter: @UnisaLibrary

6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through
Unisa.

If you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use the
following contact details:

• Toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (Select option 07 for myModules)

• E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link: https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130

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Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours
for your account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after
registering at Unisa, by following this link: [email protected]

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official
correspondence with the university, and will remain the official primary e-mail address on
record at Unisa. You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

6.1 First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is
also true in the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open
distance and e-learning institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It
is a mega university, and all our programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully
online learning. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support to help them seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We therefore offer a specialised student support
programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time – this is Unisa’s First-Year
Experience (FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful information
about services that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following FYE
services are currently offered:

• FYE website: All the guides and resources you need in order to navigate through your
first year at Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE

• FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.

• FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics
related to your first-year studies (e.g. videos on how to submit assessments online).

• FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-
mail to [email protected] .

7. STUDY PLAN
You will work through the Lessons on the module page together with the prescribed
materials.

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8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE

8.1 What does it mean to study fully online?

Studying fully online modules differs completely from studying some of your other modules at
Unisa.

• All your study material and learning activities for online modules are designed to be
delivered online on myUnisa.
• All your assignments must be submitted online. This means that you will do all your
activities and submit all your assignments on the module page.
• All communication between you and the University happens online. Lecturers will
communicate with you via e-mail and SMS, and use the Announcements, the Discussion
Forums and the Questions and Answers tools. You can also use all of these platforms to
ask questions and contact your lecturers.

The main tool that we will use is myUnisa/myModules. This platform will provide the content of
and the assessments for your module. At times, you will be directed to join discussions with
fellow students and complete activities and assessments before you can continue with the
module.

It is very important that you log in to myUnisa/myModules regularly. We recommend that you log
in at least once a week to do the following:

• Check for new announcements. You can also set your myLife e-mail account so that you
receive the announcement e-mails on your cellphone.
• Do the Discussion Forum activities. When you do the activities for each learning unit, we
want you to share your answers with the other students in your group. You can read the
instructions and even prepare your answers offline, but you will need to go online to post
your messages.

We hope that by giving you extra ways to study the material and practise all the activities, this
will help you succeed in the online module. To get the most out of the online module, you MUST
go online regularly to complete the activities and assignments on time.

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9. ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria (see 2.2)

9.2 Assessment plan

The following is a breakdown of the formal assessment activities during the year:

This is a Continuous Assessment module. The final assessment and final mark for this
module is based on six (6) compulsory assignments. Each assignment carries a weighting
towards the FINAL mark for the module. There is no examination for this module.

The final mark for this module is based on the following assessments:

Assignment 1 (10%) Curriculum (Multiple Choice) COMPULSORY Assignment

Assignment 2 (10%) Psychology of Education (Multiple Choice) COMPULSORY Assignment

Assignment 3 (20%) Curriculum (Written) COMPULSORY Assignment

Assignment 4 (20%) Psychology (Written) COMPULSORY Assignment

Assignment 5 (20%) Curriculum (Written) COMPULSORY Assignment

Assignment 6 (20%) Psychology (Written) COMPULSORY Assignment

TOTAL 100%

If, (and with valid reasons) you miss the submission of Assignment 03 OR 05 a contingency
Assignment 07 may be submitted. If, (and with valid reasons) you miss the submission of
Assignment 04 or 06, a contingency Assignment 08 may be submitted.

Assignment 01 and 02 may not be replaced for any reason.

Only ONE opportunity for a contingency assignment for each section will be allowed.

Since the module mark is based 100% on the assignments, there is NO supplementary
examination, NO aegrotat examination and NO FI concession for this module.

If you fail the module, you will have to repeat it. Your success relies on the completion and
timeous submission of ALL the assignments.

9.3 Turnitin

Assignments 03, 04, 05, 06, or 07, 08 (when relevant) will be processed through Turnitin when
you submit them.

All written assignments should have the following signed declaration attached. Attach it
after you have received the Turnitin version of your assignment.

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I (full names): ………………………………………………………………………………………

Student number: …………………… Module code: CSP4801
Declare that…
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard.
2. I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. Where I used someone else’s work,
whether a printed source, the internet or any other source, I give the proper acknowledgement
and include a complete reference list.
3. I did not use another current or previous student’s work, submitting it as my own.
4. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of submitting it
as his or her own work.

Signature ………………………… Date: …………

9.4 Assessment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing page for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.

• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates
for the submission of the assessments.

9.5 Submission of assessments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving

towards becoming an online institution. You will therefore see that all your study material,
assessments and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place
online. We use myUnisa as our virtual campus.

• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online and where assessments should be completed.
This is an online system that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational
material to students and support engagement between academics and students.

• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the

myModules 2023 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are
registered for.

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 • The university undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to
ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.

• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. Some
assessments may be multiple choice, some tests, others written assessments, some
forum discussions, and so on. All assessments must be completed on the assessment
shells available on the respective module platforms.

• To complete quiz assessments, please log on to the module site where you need to
complete the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1,
Assessment 2, etc.). There will be a date on which the assessment will open for you.
When the assessment is open, access the quiz online and complete it within the time
available to you. Quiz assessment questions are not included in this tutorial letter
(Tutorial Letter 101) and are only made available online. You must therefore access the
quiz online and complete it online where the quiz has been created.

• It is not advisable to use a cell phone to complete the quiz. Please use a desktop
computer, tablet or laptop when completing the quiz. Students who use a cell phone find
it difficult to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle
to navigate between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition, cell
phones are more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If at all
possible, please do not use a cell phone for this assessment type.

• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on
myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules
site of the modules that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double
check that you have selected the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be
allocated for incorrectly submitted assessments.

9.6 The assessments

There are no assignments included in this tutorial letter. Assignments and due dates will be
made available to you on myModules for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be
available to you upon registration.

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9.7 Invigilation/proctoring

Since 2020 Unisa conducts all its assessments online. Given stringent requirements from
professional bodies and increased solicitations of Unisa’s students by third parties to unlawfully
assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the University is obliged to
assure its assessment integrity through the utilisation of various proctoring tools: Turnitin,
Moodle Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools will authenticate the student’s
identity and flag suspicious behaviour to assure credibility of students’ responses during
assessments. The description below is for your benefit as you may encounter any or all of these
in your registered modules:

Turnitin is a plagiarism software that facilitates checks for originality in students’ submissions
against internal and external sources. Turnitin assists in identifying academic fraud and ghost
writing. Students are expected to submit typed responses for utilisation of the Turnitin software.

The Moodle Proctoring tool is a facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identity
during their Quiz assessments. This tool requires access to a student’s mobile or laptop
camera. Students must ensure their camera is activated in their browser settings prior to their
assessments.

The Invigilator “mobile application-based service does verification” of the identity of an

assessment participant. The Invigilator Mobile Application detects student dishonesty-by-proxy
and ensures that the assessment participant is the registered student. This invigilation tool
requires students to download the app from their Play Store (Google, Huawei and Apple) on
their mobile devices (camera enabled) prior to their assessment.

IRIS Invigilation software verifies the identity of a student during assessment and provides for
both manual and automated facial verification. It has the ability to record and review a student’s
assessment session. It flags suspicious behaviour by the students for review by an academic
administrator. IRIS software requires installation on students’ laptop devices that are enabled
with a webcam.

Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation and proctoring reports are referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceeding.

Please note:

Students must refer to their module assessment information on their myModule sites to
determine which proctoring or invigilation tool will be utilised for their formative and summative
assessments.

10. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:

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 • Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.

10.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another

student during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work.
• Using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files, this forms part of examination guidelines
• Buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).
For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact your lecturer.

12. IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you are experiencing problems with the content

of this tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module.

We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through the learning material, and trust

that you will complete the module successfully.

Enjoy the journey!

Prof P. Biccard – lecturer for Curriculum

Dr A. Nsamba – lecturer for Psychology

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