This document is the first of a two-part series designed to help teachers, schools, and districts to implement standards-based instruction. Part 1, The Foundation for Improvement, explains why standards-based instruction improves teaching and learning. Part 2, First Steps to a Standards-Based Classroom, describes how to adapt the curriculum to…

Presents and analyzes the first year's results of a longitudinal study designed to measure teachers' and principals' stages of concern regarding implementation of a potentially controversial innovation--benchmark testing. Results indicate that the responding 241 teachers and 52 principals were positively disposed and interested in making the…

Points out the need for improving the nation's higher education curricula. Offers reasons for supporting a core curriculum and describes difficulties in developing such a program. Provides a summary of the National Endowment for the Humanities' report "50 Hours: A Core Curriculum for College Students." (KO)

The role of music education in the curriculum and the specific skills that should be developed by students at particular grade levels, as articulated by the state of Arizona, are described. It is stated that a comprehensive music program should afford students experiences in: performing/reading, creating/writing, listening/describing, and values.…

The Arizona Social Studies Framework formulates goals for student competency in four broad categories: knowledge and cultural understanding; understanding of democratic principles; individual and group participation in social political affairs; and fundamental skill attainment for effective citizenship. Under each social studies goal are listed…

If competence is the outcome of a set of carefully designed behavioral objectives, then the form, generality, and focus of these objectives must be impeccable. Eight guidelines that eliminate the weaknesses in existing competency statements are presented. (CMJ)

Some of the major concerns regarding competency-based education (CBE) and ways of dealing with them are discussed. CBE is viewed as an opportunity for educators to work for real improvement in the teaching and learning process. (MP)

One of a series of implementation documents prepared in conjunction with the revised minimum standards adopted in 1983 by the Ohio State Board of Education, this document suggests ways to develop economic education programs in Ohio high schools and identifies issues certain to be encountered in developing such a program. Each of the five sections…

Competency testing is only one component of competency-based education (CBE); the others are: educational objectives, instructional process, remedial instruction, and program evaluation/reconceptualization. To implement only competency testing may result in disillusionment with the entire concept of CBE, which seeks to improve programs, not fail…

Alternative approaches to education can work well if they are based on common sense and sound research. Recent research findings are reported for alternative approaches to three areas: curriculum, testing and measurement, and instruction. (TE)

The curriculum guide and bibliography identifies the minimum skills, knowledge, and attitudes that emergency physicians should have relative to drug and alcohol abuse and identifies appropriate educational materials and strategies for medical schools to include in their training programs. Objectives were based on 73 survey responses from medical…

This guide identifies instructional television resources that can be used by superintendents, district directors of instruction, curriculum writers, principals, and teachers in South Carolina to meet the specific instructional requirements of the Defined Minimum Program and the objectives of the Basic Skills Assessment Program. The 214…

In 1988-89 the Connecticut Vocational-Technical School System initiated a program for the ongoing review and upgrading of all trade and academic curricula used in the system's 17 schools to insure that each curriculum is consistent with current standards. Every 3 years the Curriculum Steering Committee for the trade or academic subject conducts a…

This publication defines and outlines the state of Oregon's common curriculum goals for art education, an area of study that addresses the components of art production, art heritage, aesthetics, and art criticism. An overall goal for each one of these four strands is established, and content specific knowledge and skills that students should…

Intended for use as a practical guide by teachers of librarianship, information science, and archives administration, this guide includes exercises and explanations to assist in writing learning objectives in these areas. The examples presented relate to the various levels of training, and illustrate the diversity of topics in this subject area;…