The relationship between two educational improvement initiatives--school restructuring and systemic curriculum reform--is examined in this bulletin. School restructuring tends to focus on process in schools and curriculum reform concentrates more directly on content and curriculum across a range of schools. The main features, their promises and…

This report discusses some of the characteristics and benefits of an interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as practical considerations involving the introduction of such a curriculum in elementary and secondary schools. To successfully introduce an interdisciplinary curriculum, teachers and administrators need to: (1) integrate the curriculum; (2)…

The University of Oregon (UO) and Captain Robert Gray Elementary School formed a partnership where UO students used the elementary school as a case study for curriculum research. This document gives an overview of the 7-step process the students used to align the school's curriculum with Oregon's content and performance standards. The text opens…

Three conditions have led to the current state of curriculum development: a lack of accurate conceptualization of and general consensus on the major constructs of curriculum development, a lack of leadership among educators to engender effective curriculum design, and a lack of specification in the roles of superintendents and principals who must…

Based on an educational needs assessment, a project designed a community college curriculum to develop the competencies of human service workers for the changing mental health service delivery system. The curriculum prepares workers to meet future service needs such as pre-discharge preparation of patients, outreach, aftercare, community…

A compilation of five documents defines and explores the role, scope, reforms, and current trends in history teaching in Hungary. Ivan Berend in "Educational Ideas and History," considers whether or not the traditional uses of historical knowledge have become obsolete and examines the value of this knowledge in today's society. Peter…

Described are some ideas for using photography in the elementary classroom. Justification for using photography in the classroom includes student interaction with the photography materials, building teacher-student rapport, the potential for integration into different areas of elementary curriculum, and support for the developmental theorists'…

Integrative education, although organized around curriculum, also unites people and activities. This monograph explores the integration of people, activities, and subject matter as seen through the eyes of those who support and implement the meaning and processes of integrative education. In chapter 1, scholars and trainers in and out of academia…

Four recent journal articles and one meeting paper on teacher involvement in curriculum development are summarized in this research bulletin. Contents include "Motivating Teacher Involvement in Professional Growth Activities," by Ruth Wright; "Teacher Participation in Curriculum Development: What Status Does It Have?" by Jean Young; "The Locus of…

Interdisciplinary studies are examined in this paper with respect to common teaching modes, advantages and disadvantages, courses integrating humanities instruction into occupational programs, and specific programs operating at six urban multi-campus community college districts. After an introduction to the rationale behind interdisciplinary…

There is increasing interest in integrated studies or the integrated curriculum at all levels of schooling. Integrated approaches reveal wide differences in interpretation of what integration actually means and how it can be accomplished within the school setting. Chapter 1 discusses the various meanings of integration and some approaches taken to…

Standards-based reform activity dominated K-12 education during the 1990s, reflecting a consensus that improving learning requires state-level curricular standards and examinations. Opponents argue state-imposed standards and tests overly burden districts, degrade teaching and learning, suffer from numerous technical problems, and have failed to…

Six articles by Lynn Olson, published in various issues of "Education Week" starting in January 1993 and ending May 1995, describe a Maryland project to improve elementary education in the State: (1) "Winning NASDC (New American Schools Development Corporation) Project Takes Flight" (the basic skills children need to succeed in…

Members of the Council of Universities and Colleges present recommendations and practical strategies in the area of curriculum development in this monograph. Louis Bender discusses strategies for curriculum revision. James Wattenbarger and Sandra Scaggs relate organization theory to the process of curriculum change. Raymond Schultz and Carl Webb…

The history, scope, content, and strategies for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction in Australia, particularly in adult education, are summarized. The history of ESL instruction is traced from post-war immigration policies, through early provision for migrant education and introduction within postsecondary institutions and adult…