Discusses John Dewey's concept of curriculum, as applied in his Laboratory School. Describes the planning of the school and how its curriculum evolved over time. Identifies both Dewey's belief in educational specialization and his understanding of its limits. Notes the implications of Dewey's work for today's educators. (SG)

Describes curricular and pedagogical experimentation in humanities and social studies instruction conducted in New Zealand immediately after World War II. Compares such developments with the Freyberg Integrated Studies Project, a later three-year curriculum development and research program. Concludes that the Freyberg model provides support for…

Discusses the results of a study of the teaching and learning of mathematics in 21 countries, conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Reports that a clear distinction between support for broad educational objectives and for the learning of narrow skills did not exist among teachers. (SG)

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…

Provides an overview and an examination of educational didactics in Sweden. In this context, didactics refers to the study of what content is chosen and how it is taught. Some theorists have extended this to include how students conceptualize what they are taught. Discusses the conflicting schools of thought. (MJP)

Draws a parallel between cultural artifacts that both entertain and enlighten and the educational experience which must be both engaging and accessible. Uses the making of the film, "Casablanca," as a model noting the creative, flexible, and collaborative work that occurred within a fairly rigid system. (MJP)

Explores the different status and validity accorded to various subjects in Hong Kong secondary schools and the structure and ideology that supports this system. Argues that the curriculum continues to promote the characteristics of direct state control even though efforts have been extended to change it. (MJP)

Questions the very assumptions that teachers can identify the skills and the knowledge that students need and that learning itself is controllable. Proposes a theory of curriculum development where knowledge and the learning process exist as a co-emerging, mutual, and dynamic relationship between the students and teachers. (MJP)

Predicts that the paradigms of chaos theory will rapidly move into the social sciences, resulting in major changes in educational research and the study of the curriculum. Discusses the need for new metaphors and paradigms in the social sciences. Briefly characterizes previous educational principles and approaches. (MJP)

Argues that a male perspective, valuing individual achievement through aggressive competition, has dominated physical education. This agenda has marginalized other pedagogies and sports such as gymnastics and dance. Supports this interpretation with an analysis of policy documents, archival material, interviews, and journal articles. (MJP)

Describes how a group of primary schools in Northern Ireland plan to make the shift to a differentiated curriculum. Differentiation, in this context, refers to a broad effort to teach to individual students' abilities and needs. Concludes that although progress was made, more work needs to be done. (MJP)

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)

Reports on the implementation of the education with production (EWP) curriculum reform 13 years after its implementation in eight pilot schools in Zimbabwe. EWP attempted to foster socialist principles, redress colonial mentality, and inculcate industrial and technical skills. Poor planning, political interference, and lack of support hurt the…

Traces the origin and development of technology education in the United States from its inception during the progressive era to the present. Although it has gone through various name-changes (manual training, vocational education, industrial arts) this field has always suffered from lack of funding and inadequate definition. (MJP)

Reports on a case study of the perceptions of principles of traditional South African schools on social change. The principal's essential conservatism suggests that meaningful curriculum change will not be easily achieved. Reveals a deep dichotomy between progressive educational rhetoric and actual school practices. (MJP)