About KERU

Ko te manu kai i te miro, nōna te ngahere. Ko te manu kai i te mātauranga, nōna te ao.

With education comes knowledge, but knowledge itself knows no bounds.

Established in 2010, the Knowledge in Education Research Unit is based in the School of Critical Studies, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland and includes researchers from across the faculty.

It is an internationally recognised research centre for the study of knowledge in education from the Durkeimian and Bernsteinian theoretical tradition and using realist approaches. The focus is on types of knowledge in the curriculum and the connection between curriculum design and progressive pedagogies. In addition to promoting research-based educational interventions, KERU provides a vehicle for postgraduate students and contributes to research at the University of Auckland.

Purpose

Our purpose is to provide this research to policymakers and teachers in order to strengthen academic knowledge in the curriculum so that students from all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds have access to the type of knowledge that leads to success at school. KERU is committed to improving educational results for Māori and Pacific students and children from low socio-economic communities.

Members of KERU are interested in:

• Change to The New Zealand Curriculum
  
• Education, knowledge and democracy
• Curriculum knowledge and curriculum design
• Progressive pedagogies
• Language and education: bilingual and total immersion schooling
• Māori and Pacific education
• Innovative learning environments and 21st century education
  
• New Zealand Education
  
• The relationship between assessment and knowledge

Current Research Projects

• The Knowledge-Rich School Project and the Curriculum design Coherence Model (KERU members)
• International Teacher Development Project using the Curriculum Design Coherence Model (KERU members with Dr Richard Pountney, Sheffield Hallam University, and Diane Swift, Keele and North Staffordshire Teacher Education (KNSTE)
• Knowledge in the Primary School Curriculum (Dr Alexis Siteine)
• International Music Education Delphi Project (Graham McPhail with Dr Jeff McNeill, Massey University)
• Knowledge in History education, Art History and Classical Studies (Dr Barbara Ormond)
• Secondary school music education (Dr Graham McPhail)
• Theorising the knowledge, learning, and teaching connection (Dr Graham McPhail and Professor Elizabeth Rata)
• 21st Education Policy – origins and development (Dr Megan Lourie)
• TransAcquisition pedagogy (Dr Tauwehe Tamati)
• Knowledge and Science (Elizabeth Rata with Emeritus Professors Michael Corballis and Robert Nola )
• Knowledge socialism (Professor John Morgan)

Centre director and contact point

Professor Elizabeth Rata: mailto:e.rata@auckland.ac.nz

Professor Elizabeth Rata was an English teacher and member of the Auckland Runanga which campaigned for Kura Kaupapa Māori education. Her research is in two main areas: the connection between knowledge and democracy, and how a knowledge-rich curriculum is aligned with the best teaching methods from New Zealand’s progressive tradition.

Rata, E. (2021). The Curriculum Design Coherence Model in the Knowledge-Rich School Project. Review of Education. DOI: 10.1002/rev3.3254

Rata, E. (2021) Context and Implications Document for The Curriculum Design Coherence Model in the Knowledge-Rich School Project. Review of Education. DOI: 10.1002/rev3.3253

You can search for all start associated with our research centre via the button below.

Some KERU members are available for curriculum professional development presentations about the Curriculum Design Coherence Model.

KERU members, Professor Elizabeth Rata and Dr Graham McPhail are available for curriculum professional development presentations about the Curriculum Design Coherence Model. The CDC Model has been developed in the Knowledge Rich School Project. It is a tool to assist primary and secondary schools to design their curriculum.

The Model can be used at the topic/unit level, for a course across the year, as well as for programme across the years (from 1-13) either to create a coherent curriculum or to evaluate an existing curriculum.

Interested schools should contact Professor Rata at e.rata@auckland.ac.nz or Dr McPhail at g.mcphail@auckland.ac.nz

Postal address

Knowledge in Education Research Unit
Faculty of Education and Social Work
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92601
Symonds Street
Auckland 1150
New Zealand