Describes the three sequential groupings of elements in the development of a favorable research climate: (1) elements of the foundation of the research program; (2) elements that serve to build momentum; and (3) elements that protect the program against an erosion of purpose, vitality, and creativity. (Author/SMB)

Results of a survey of 45 graduates of Pennsylvania State University's English education program suggested that they were somewhat more satisfied with their undergraduate teacher preparation program than were their Illinois counterparts of a decade ago as reported in a 1969 study. (GT)

A ten-question survey instrument was used to measure teacher acceptance of vocational agriculture core curriculum materials in Nebraska. On a scale of one (poor) to ten (excellent), all 103 teachers who responded rated the core curriculum concept as 5 or higher, with 68 teachers scoring the core concept as 8 or higher. (LRA)

A survey of health educators involved in courses on death and dying indicates the varying emphases and coverage of such courses. (JMF)

The state of Virginia approach to the development and implementation of competency-based instruction in industrial arts programs is outlined. Development of various activities is described: position paper, curriculum research project, and industrial arts catalogs research project. Figures illustrate the details of each area. (CT)

Article is a criticism of the document "Guidelines" published by the Aesthetic Education Curriculum program. The need for standardization of language and definition of concepts in aesthetic education is emphasized. (RW)

Reports an experiment which tests the hypothesis that the process of curriculum development affects the resulting curriculum. Describes developed models of curriculum. Concludes that the hypothesis cannot be rejected and that curriculum models do influence the resulting curriculum. (KO)

Arguing that curriculum research can be organized and prioritized according to reasonable criteria, this article defines "curriculum practice" and "curriculum research," explains how they relate to each other, and reviews current work in curriculum research. Curriculum research is hampered by lack of longitudinal studies and the separation of…

Finds in a national survey that introductory business communication courses in different departments differ in many aspects, yet are similar in topics covered, sequence of topics, and amount of time necessary to assure a minimum level of competence. (SR)

Explores curriculum developers' differing opinions before they design a specific curriculum; the amount of convergence of opinion caused by curriculum deliberations; and the retention of that convergence. Finds that, despite frequent discrepancies of opinion before curriculum conferences on design issues, subsequent deliberations produced a high…

In the aftermath of such tragedies as September 11 and natural disasters like the tsunami in Southeast Asia and during contentious election years, social studies becomes more prominent in the curriculum. As such, teachers, not just parents or churches or the government, have the responsibility to help students make sense of the information to…

Studies of teachers' use of mathematics curriculum materials are particularly timely given the current availability of reform-inspired curriculum materials and the increasingly widespread practice of mandating the use of a single curriculum to regulate mathematics teaching. A review of the research on mathematics curriculum use over the last 25…

Whilst religious education in the present may be seen to assume new roles and be perceived to be more about process than content, questions about content and the ways in which "faiths" are represented cannot ultimately be avoided. This article focuses on recent Agreed Syllabuses with particular reference to the place they give to…

The Comparing Options in Secondary Mathematics: Investigating Curriculum (COSMIC) project is a longitudinal study of student learning from two types of mathematics curricula: integrated and subject-specific. Previous large-scale research studies such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) indicate that numerous variables are…

This book provides beginning teachers and educational leaders with a series of articles that can help them build their curriculum knowledge base. Features include: (1) Provides a historical context of the curriculum field, giving educators a solid foundation for curriculum knowledge; (2) Describes the political nature of curriculum and how we must…