This report presents topics addressed at the December 2000 seminar on Capacity-Building for Curriculum Specialists from East and South-East Asia. Part 1, "Rethinking the Framework and the Capacities Needed for Curriculum Reform," gives some perspectives on trends and issues in curriculum change for the 21st century, both internationally…

A model for designing a social studies unit for able (gifted) students that has no national boundaries or time, event, and cultural limitations is explained and illustrated by a diagram. The conceptual model provides an example built around the concept of leadership styles. (SEW)

Wiktor Kulerski, Deputy Minister of Poland's Ministry of Education, and Andrzej Janowski, a Vice-Minister of Education, members of the Solidarity union's teachers branch, discuss their involvement with the union that forced democratic reforms in Poland's Communist government and ensuing changes in the Polish social studies curriculum. (FMW)

The aim of this seminar was to draw attention to the necessity of a fundamental reform in school curricula to make them more adapted to the diversified challenges of the 21st century and to determine what concrete actions should be taken to achieve this goal. Another objective was the intellectual preparation of countries concerned for…

This chapter discusses the implementation and encouragement of instructional development on the university campus, with particular emphasis on the instability and political nature of the campus environment. Empirical data obtained from a survey of instructional development activities throughout the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania and New Jersey…

The National Institute for Curriculum Development (SLO) in the Netherlands originated in 1975 to evaluate and redesign existing curricula and to coordinate programs at various levels. The SLO Humanities department, which includes the subjects of geography, history, and economics, has been engaged in curriculum development in lower vocational and…

Finds that the National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools' report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century," emphasis on multiethnic perspectives is sparse and sporadic. Observes that its chronological approach to history and textbook emphasis discourages understanding of ethnicity. Criticizes teacher education…

Discusses a two-year action-research investigation of conceptual, evaluation and adoption tensions that led to a revised approach to environmental education and curriculum innovation. The study revealed how external support services and a sustained dialog around the prevailing science curriculum, local environment, and everyday classroom…

This book offers a comprehensive examination of the importance of educating professionals for practice in the 21st century and why and how that education needs to differ from the curricula of today. The book contains 13 chapters divided among 3 main parts: part I explores the broad social trends and political forces affecting professionals and…

Maintains that criticism of the National History Standards is inaccurate and politically motivated. Claims that conservatives value history instruction as an inculcation of patriotism rather than a search for truth. Praises the Standards as fair, insightful, and useful. (MJP)

This book gives middle school and secondary school teachers a comprehensive look at assessment, from definitions and history to practical suggestions and political implications. It explores the theory behind student-centered assessment and examines practical strategies teachers can use to bring about student-centered assessment in an educational…

This paper addresses the need to inform all students of the importance of multicultural issues and the impact that cultural diversity will have on global society and offers a model that examines the problematic issue of incorporating a multicultural curriculum into what has been termed "traditional curriculum." The author develops the…

Patterns that emerged from reviewing syllabi for courses on educational policy are discussed, and two sample syllabi are presented. These courses are offered as part of graduate level studies in the field of higher education administration. Review of seven syllabi and three brief course descriptions indicated that the subject of educational policy…

Charts the changes in Namibian curriculum policy reflecting the recent independence from South Africa and the dismantling of apartheid. Although originally conceived as a radical socialist state, political realities quickly created policies of reconciliation within Namibia. Educational policy has focused on the establishment of a post-colonial…

An abstract introduces this collection of three papers and two abstracts of papers from a symposium at which experts presented their viewpoints about the social, political, and economic issues surrounding the use of computers in schools. Each of the following five investigations provides an important perspective on such issues: (1) "Educational…