Reviews the role of history in the U.S. social studies curriculum. Explains that differing interpretations of history and the purposes of history have had a significant impact on the structure of the K-12 social studies curriculum. Argues that the time is ripe for historians and social studies educators to renew cooperative efforts. (CFR)

Discusses changes in educational research methods over recent decades. Explores changing views of teaching and learning and what the changes mean for assessment and the content and delivery of the curriculum. Concludes that, to be effective, educational research must be relevant to education and perceived as such by educators. (SG)

Examines the impact at the primary level of efforts to introduce a national curriculum in Great Britain. Contends that the biggest obstacle is confusion about the definition and implementation of an integrated curriculum approach. Warns that effective cross-curricular programs already in operation may be replaced with highly differentiated and…

Attempts to update chronology of events in noncompulsory upper secondary education in Australia since 1987. Identifies key differences among trajectories for Australia's conservative, progressive, and "common culture" states and territories as they deal with increased demand for higher level of schooling. Highlights some underlying…

Suggests that the formation and implementation of the National Curriculum for England and Wales has been a dialectical process involving legislators, administrators, and teachers. Using case studies, discusses some problems with the curriculum and schools' responses that may work against a truly national curriculum. Criticizes reduced local…

Reports a research project with the goal of learning about the barriers to promoting higher-order thinking in high school social studies. Compares social studies departments that are successful at promoting higher-order thinking with less successful departments. Describes the technical aspects in the development and use of the 17 observational…

Interviewed 45 students, grades 9-12, to which what social studies classes or activities engage secondary school students. Summarizes student reactions to a social studies class emphasizing higher-order thinking (HOT). Reports that a subject's intrinsic interest and relevance, student active participation, and cognitively challenging tasks most…

Reviews educational history and curriculum development in Norway from the eighteenth century to the present. Describes the development and implementation of centralized curriculum administration. Discusses and analyzes recent trends toward decentralized control and local efforts in curriculum development. (CFR)

Evaluates the Early Literacy Inservice Course (ELIC) supported by the Australian Basic Learning in Primary Schools (BLIPS) program. Assesses ELIC and identifies a number of general issues about literacy programs. Focuses on improving standards of literacy and teacher quality through inservice activities. (KO)

Argues that school systems should tolerate, accept, and promote diversity in both the formal curriculum and informal policies of school management. Contends that citizens have the primary responsibility for pressuring school officials to develop curricula that promote diversity. (CFR)

Traces educational reform related to history education in Great Britain since the first Margaret Thatcher administration. Outlines the work of the History Working Group and two competing approaches to the study of history. Describes how conservative forces rejected pluralistic history in favor of traditional nationalist-based history. (CFR)

Asserts that teacher educators struggle with how to represent the complexities of teaching in an isolated and sanitized undergraduate classroom. Describes three approaches: (1) case studies; (2) development of hypermedia environments; and (3) the integration of electronically based computer networks. (CFR)

Investigates the role of social studies department heads and principals in five schools involved in a project studying higher-order thinking skills. Identifies similarities and differences between department heads and administrators. Develops indicators of the success of the five schools in promoting higher-order thinking in social studies…

Maintains that Canadian scholar, Kieran Egan, developed a schema of childhood development that presents a bold, new approach to the stages of growth, both affectively and cognitively. Describes Egan's views and how the school curriculum must be adapted to correspond more closely to these views. (CFR)

Asserts that a rapidly growing high-tech job market requires better educated students. Argues for a more integrated and holistic approach in general and vocational education. Describes the Integrated Studies Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a model of this approach. (MJP)