Professor John Loughran, of Monash University's faculty of education, said implementation of the Federal Government's curriculum, launched last Monday, had become lost in arguments about its content.

"At the moment, much of the argument is really about content but not about how it will be taught, what it means for teachers or issues around teachers learning to develop the curriculum."

While teachers in 150 schools across Australia will examine the curriculum, they will only review material online and have not been asked to experiment with it in the classroom.

Professor Loughran said the debate needed to be shifted from content to how teachers would work with the curriculum.

"In lots of ways it doesn't matter what specific pieces of history are included, it's how it's taught.

"Teachers will need to be given the ability to work with it and respond appropriately with their kids. It can't just be dropped on their desk on day one of next year. Teachers need the opportunity to work with these ideas, develop them and share their learning with other teachers in a professional group discussion."

Professor Loughran said discussion was also lacking about how and when teachers would be given a chance to learn the content.

"Teachers will have to experiment with the curriculum before they start teaching it, almost regardless of what happens with the 150 practice schools."