Summarizes methods used in establishing the English sample, characterizes English departments, and presents major findings describing institutional characteristics, character of the English faculty, enrollments, branches of English studies and degree programs administered, travel funds, faculty teaching loads, introductory writing classes, and…

As educators work to address the challenge of students meeting state standards, alignment of what is tested with what is taught has been identified as a key to successful improvement efforts. This research brief focuses on what research and best practices say about improving alignment between state assessments and district and school curricula. It…

This book is a resource written for educational leaders who want to successfully restructure and enhance curriculum in schools today. It provides innovative and successful curriculum ideas, including reflective case studies, "Keys to Leadership" sections, curriculum tips, and "Challenge" sections with key issues and questions in every chapter.…

Some of the conceptual connections between general curriculum theory and multicultural education are traced, guided by the concept model of education and curriculum theory developed by George Beauchamp. The major premise is that multicultural education is consistent with, and actually a continuation of, some trends that have long-standing…

The author presents an analysis of alternative views about why students should learn science, shares some anecdotal impressions about the heuristic potential of the concept "curriculum emphases" in a practical setting, and examines some problems related to teaching science to early adolescents. (Author/PB)

Reports an interpretive study of curriculum differentiation which looks at a lower-track curriculum at a midwestern public high school. Examines the relationships among curriculum differentiation, classroom conflict, and social differentiation. Concludes that curriculum is a sociocultural construction, that student responses are crucial…

Reports findings from the 1987 National Cancer Institute North Carolina School Health and Tobacco Education Project, which assessed schools' curriculum awareness, adoption, implementation, and institutionalization, focusing on 10 lessons learned after 5 years of following participating school districts. The lessons are categorized into the areas…

Discusses the influence of the number of liberal arts courses and course stratification upon community college transfer rate, indicating that colleges with below-average liberal arts ratios had disproportionately low transfer rates. Suggests that precollegiate, freshman, and sophomore stratifications, including remedial education programs, in the…

Reviews empirical education research trends in West Germany since 1965. Reports on the movement from normative research to empirical research in educational settings. Considers research priorities and the primacy of the University of Constance (West Germany) in developments focusing on analyzing the factual order of the educational system rather…

Identifies concepts and findings in cognitive psychology and cooperative learning relevant to teaching and learning higher cognitive skills. Derives implications from research to use as criteria for evaluating history and social science instruction programs. Critiques three models for teaching intellectual skills in the social studies curriculum.…

Reports a survey that indicates approximately half of U.S. political science departments offer an introductory course in urban politics and that enrollments have remained steady, although the course's popularity has declined since the 1970s. Discusses textbooks used and course objectives, revealing a shift from a reformist orientation to…

Presents results from empirical studies of physics learning for different age groups using a situated cognition perspective to construct detailed understandings of how individual learning processes unfold. Contains 35 references. (PVD)

"Chemie im Kontext" (ChiK) is a project that aims at the improvement of chemistry teaching at secondary school in Germany. Based on a framework that was derived from theories and empirical data on the teaching and learning of science, science education researchers and teachers work together on learning communities to transform this…

Political participation is critical for the legitimacy of democracy, yet we know surprisingly little about how political competencies develop and can be promoted in young adults. Many studies show low levels of political activity among young Americans, including college students and recent graduates. Although this is widely recognized as a…

Early childhood education in New Zealand includes the education of children from birth until entry into school. A national early childhood curriculum is expected to support the partnership between Maori people and the Crown established by the Treaty of Waitangi. This paper discusses the development of some national guidelines for early childhood…