Have you ever avoided discussing controversial issues in the classroom? Teachers report often avoiding these types of discussions due to concerns about the unpredictability of student reactions, accusations of trying to push a political agenda, and insufficient knowledge or skills to work through complex issues. Debates, however, have been shown…

Notes that social issues books can enrich the understanding of history and life by giving voice to those who have traditionally been silenced or marginalized. Discusses how these books show how people can begin to take action on important social issues and rarely end with "they lived happily ever after." Presents four accounts of teaching with…

This article considered the form, content, objectives and background of courses relating to science and society. (Author/RK)

The special function of curriculum development is to select and organize the content so that the desired goals of the curriculum are most effectively achieved. Various curriculum development models are examined, and issues that should be emphasized in the development and implementation of a science-technology-society curriculum are discussed. (RM)

Argues that the behavioral or "human" sciences are fundamentally different in scope and intent from the natural sciences. Describes the use of controversial topics in undergraduate courses and provides a four-step process. Recommends using Karl Popper's falsification theory to help students think critically about issues. (CFR)

Describes a secondary course in which cost benefit analysis is used as a basis for decision making about social issues. Explains how students were divided into task groups and assigned roles corresponding to local organizations. Includes data sheets, questions, and recommended instructional resources. (CFR)

Addresses the problems of the U.S. history course structure from two vantage points: (1) agreement with instructional goals; and (2) agreement between current issues and the content of the established curriculum. Outlines an approach for structuring historical content around current problems and issues. Suggests several curricular models for an…

Recommends organizing U.S. history courses around central ideas rather than chronological periods. Argues that this method affords a better grasp of the principal developments in the nation's history by treating issues in depth. Lists eight broad themes around which a U.S. history course can be constructed. (MJP)

An emerging focus on pre-college education in the 1980s is the interaction of science and technology in terms of their combined interrelationships with society. The characterizations of the science/technology/society (S/T/S) theme, as advanced by science educators, social studies educators, and environmental educators, exhibit similarities. It is…

This paper describes an undergraduate course for non-education majors which emphasizes rational decision making as advocated by John Dewey. The course, offered in 1976 by the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, had three instructional goals. These were to (1) provide students an opportunity to learn about…

This paper proposes a teaching model for the implementation of a Science-Technology-Society (STS) curriculum. The topics of technologic literacy, STS goals, and STS instruction are included. The historical and contemporary perspective of technology is addressed. The Graham model of STS instruction is compared with the Oregon instructional model.…

Describes a course in global environmental politics. Argues specialized courses are needed that focus on the economic, social, and political dimensions of environmental problems. Argues such a course should be part of the core undergraduate curriculum. Includes a survey of course topics to prepare students for future challenges. (NL)

Examines possible reasons for the lack of issues-oriented instruction in social studies classrooms. Provides curriculum suggestions to remedy this, including exploring debatable issues that can be researched and are interesting. Includes 12 instructional strategies designed to maintain student interest and smooth over rough spots. (MJP)