The "Multiple Intelligences, Curriculum and Assessment Project" at University College Cork was a collaborative project carried out between 1995 and 1999. The key research question focused on whether Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences could be applied to, and enhance, aspects of curriculum and assessment at primary and…

Points out that evaluating social studies teachers requires evaluating both curriculum and instruction. Elaborates by saying social studies is such a diverse subject area that to teach it effectively, varied teaching styles must be employed. Examples of these styles include the teacher as storyteller, problem solver, scholar, and moralist. (BR)

The social studies curriculum should be assessed continuously to bring in the latest research, trends, and recommendations of experts. A survey of teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members may be conducted to determine preferences for the curriculum. An effort should be made to decide what is in the curriculum and what should…

This report evaluates a project undertaken in the Czech Republic to create lesson scenarios to revise the existing social studies curricular framework for the third form of secondary school (ages 17-18) with special reference to the overarching objectives for civic education reform started in 1989. These objectives included the elimination of…

This article deals with the selection process of social studies curriculum materials, introducing readers to the major ideas contained in the NCSS's Social Studies Curriculum Guidelines and SSEC's Curriculum Materials Analysis System. (SM)

The purposes of this Newsletter are: to summarize the Consortium's recent experience with the Curriculum Materials Analysis System (CMAS); to report the activities of others using CMAS; and to describe available analyses of curriculum materials, including their prices. Most of the analyses were done by teachers and supervisors in work groups…

Describes the development and application of a model for social studies program evaluations. A case study showing how the model's three-step process was used to evaluate the Improving Citizenship Education Project in Fulton County, Georgia is included. (AM)

For almost five decades during his professional life, Engle was deeply concerned about the philosophical views that made up social studies education, as well as ways those views were being practiced in the classrooms. In particular, he criticized the philosophical views of two contemporary educators, Edgar Wesley and Jerome Bruner. Wesley believed…

The intent of this article is to present a case study of the formative stage of evaluation of the two-semester high school course in American Political Behavior developed by the author. (JB)

The need to evaluate course materials developed by the High School Geography Project led to the development of an evaluation strategy. Test data was of little use in identifying problems or in suggesting revisions in curriculum, but questionnaire information was useful in rating the effectiveness of the material. There are four critical stages in…

How best to prepare beginning tachers and what is meant by an adequately prepared teacher are issues that directly influence the structure and practice of teacher preparation programs. A critical review of recent research (1978-1988) on social studies methods classes, examined those with a focus on overall course design and those that focus on a…

A model to study the effects on inquiry teaching, that attempts to correct the gaps found in other experimental evidence, is suggested to teacher educators for the benefit of their trainees as well as all social science education. (JH)

This self-assessment instrument is intended to accompany the National Council for the Social Studies guidelines for new directions in social studies. It is a comprehensive instrument which will help teachers, supervisors, and administrators determine their readiness to embark upon or review their status relative to the new social studies…

Notes that the curriculum standards under development by the National Council for the Social Studies incorporate authentic learning assessment tasks and suggest ways that civic participation experiences can be included and the subsequent learning assessed. Discusses instruction and assessment opportunities involving citizenship education. (RS)

The paper reports on an investigation of evaluation alternatives of the social studies curriculum project "Man: A Course of Study" (MACOS). It is presented in eight sections. Section I describes the task of the study and offers a view of the stages of curriculum development projects. Section II describes methods employed in the study.…