Interest in the study of computer technology in schools (often in the form of Computer Science subjects or coding initiatives) is seen to have undergone two waves of interest, one in the late 1970s/early 1980s and the other more recently since about 2010. Through a historical exploration of the rationales for the study of computer technology in…

Fifteen secondary education chemistry curricula published from 1957 until 2007 were examined based on the dimensions of rationale, goals, and subject matter. An examination of documents in the scope of qualitative research was carried out in the study. The goals included in the examined chemistry curricula were analyzed according to the cognitive,…

This article provides an extended, comprehensive example of how teachers, schools, districts, and external factors (e.g., parental pressure and policy mandates) shape curriculum research in the U.S. It retrospectively examines how three different middle school curriculum units were implemented and scaled-up in a large, diverse school system. The…

Our project to embed formative student assessments in the Foundational Approaches in Science Teaching curriculum required a close collaboration between curriculum developers at the Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG) and assessment developers at the Stanford Educational Assessment Laboratory (SEAL). This was a new endeavor for each…

Described are some of the activities, roles, problems and projects of the Education (Research) Committee of the Association for Science Education. (PEB)

This study looks at the curricula for mathematics, science and literacy, comparing England's curricula with those of other countries based on performance in international comparative surveys. The main objective was to answer the question: How does the content of the Primary Curriculum in England at Key stage 2 compare in literacy, math and science…

Examines the ideal ecology curriculum in terms of education rationale, goals, and content. Reviews available data sources with regard to environmental education. (KHR)

This paper (1) describes 4-year efforts of the Eastern Regional Institute for Education (ERIE) to promote use of various process-oriented curricula in over 50 New York State and Pennsylvania school districts; and (2) presents guidelines for curriculum installers based on documented successes and failures in participating schools. (Author/LLR)

The author reviews trends in the curriculum field, pointing out how it suffers from "ahistoricism." Schools must be responsible for countering cycles and fashions. Curriculum reform efforts should be an attempt to solve problems based on knowledge from previous experience. (MD)

A history and analysis of science curriculum development is presented. Factors which influence the selection and organization of content in a science curriculum are discussed, including Macdonald's curriculum development models, propositions for curriculum development, and changes made in science curricula during the last century. (CJ)

Presented is a scheme for systematically analyzing curriculum prescriptions to produce probing arguments in defense of the instructional objectives of each curriculum. With the probing arguments thus defined, a defensible, analytical choice between the alternative prescriptions would be facilitated. Included are four detailed examples of the…

Science and mathematics curricula have undergone major changes in the United States during the past 30 years. Many of the science courses developed and implemented in the 1960s were expensive, difficult, and too theoretical for students. Mathematics curricula suffered similar problems. Indonesia's 1994 curriculum-reform effort can learn from these…

This literature review is the first phase of an extensive review of curriculum reform in science, mathematics and higher order thinking across the disciplines. The first of eight sections is an executive summary addressing the major themes of the document. The second section deals with several general issues of curricular reform concerning…

Based on experiences gained through involvement with three curriculum development projects, one relating to an elementary science curriculum and the other two relating to junior high school mathematics, the following recommendations are presented: (1) financial support from an outside agency, public or private, makes boldness more probable in…