This symposium paper is concerned with curriculum theory and development and the place of curriculum theory within the area of instructional technology. It first identifies the central questions of curriculum (e.g., what should we teach?) and discusses the implications of the resulting issues: (1) why should we teach this rather than that? (2) who…

Discusses a study of the views of social education professionals and elementary social studies teachers on elementary social studies education. Reports many areas of agreement between the two groups and mostly minor points of disagreement. Concludes that social education goals would be better served by greater understanding between the two groups.…

Intended for English teachers and administrators involved in curriculum design, this monograph describes the Language Learning Project, an investigation into current school practices in the teaching of English language in the Australian junior secondary school, with particular reference to teaching directed toward the attainment of language…

Presents the results of a survey of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business on the role of economics courses in MBA programs. Discovers a slight five-year decline in the number of economics courses. Discusses the relationship between economic course work and the focus of an MBA program. (MJP)

Examines difficulties of curriculum development in liberal democracies. Focuses on selection and choices in the official curriculum. Discusses theories that state social groups seek benefits through school curriculum. States mass access to contemporary thought causes curriculum development to be complex. Argues multiple views and ideologies must…

This booklet consists of four papers by separate authors that show how the Dutch National Institute for Curriculum Development (SLO) tries to improve the quality of education through curriculum research and development. The first text, by Johan C. van Bruggen, provides a general introduction to SLO, showing how it generates curriculum knowledge…

Asserts that many educators do not hold curriculum studies in high regard. Reviews the "Handbook of Research on Curriculum," published by the American Educational Research Association. Concludes that the volume will serve the interests of researchers but not other constituents within the curriculum community. (CFR)

This paper discusses state control over curriculum relative to two general schools of curriculum theorists. The traditionalists employ a behavioristic social science orientation and attempt to develop curriculum theory with laws and principles tested through research. Reconceptualists reject the behavioral science model and attempt to…

This study presents a process used to assess the general education component of the undergraduate curriculum, focusing particularly on the components of the methodology that provided the data used to suggesting changes in the program. The study was undertaken at an urban institution with an undergraduate population of 6,000, and involved analysis…

Provides an introduction to the German educational theory of didaktik. Didaktik emphasizes critical thinking incorporated into content instruction. Although originally developed in the 19th century, didaktik has enjoyed renewed popularity within the last 10 years. Discusses the history of the theory and its impact on U.S. pedagogy. (MJP)

In this study two high school students participated in the revision of a technology curriculum. These students were paid to work through lessons with one of the original authors to provide input for final editing and rewriting. The students were matched to the intended population for which the materials were originally written--poorly motivated…

A paradigm for learning economic concepts based on cognitive development and learning theory is offered as a guideline for teaching and research. Discussion is divided into two sections. The first section establishes the model's theoretical framework, which is based on two propositions. The first of these is that economic knowledge is not a fixed…

Presents a crucial German essay, originally published in 1958, that defined and introduced didaktik to a new generation of educators. In this incarnation, didaktik represents an educational approach that incorporates critical thinking (as defined by Adorno and Habermas) into both content and instruction. Briefly outlines the essentials of didactic…

This book proposes a broad view of the college curriculum, suggesting that it be defined as an "academic plan." The plan included decisions about what, why, and how students learn; ways to determine whether students have learned what they are supposed to learn; and methods of using this information to improve the plan. Taking both a macro and a…