The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to understand the ways teachers were influenced in their curricular and instructional decision-making processes in a freshman level mathematics class. Understanding what influences teachers' decision-making processes, and how (the ways) these processes were influenced, may lead to improved…

A key step in distance learning project management is the creation of a course development plan. The plan should account for decisions related to materials, curriculum, delivery methods, staffing, technology applications, resources, reporting lines, and project management--issues that may require administrator involvement and support, particularly…

Explains how cost-utility analysis can be applied to the selection of curriculum and instructional methods. Describes the use of multiattribute utility models of decision making as a tool for more informed judgment in educational administration. (SK)

One of the fundamental goals of environmental education (EE) is to equip students with the skills to make more thoughtful decisions about environmental issues. Many examples of environmental and science education curricula work to address this goal by providing students with up-to-date information about a myriad of environmental issues from a…

Using an ethnographic approach, this article describes the factors influencing the curriculum planning of a fifth grade teacher. (Author/MP)

An "orientation" checklist is proposed to aid the adult basic education (ABE) teacher in preparing for instruction. The list reflects a number of issues teachers should consider carefully before meeting with students. The issues concern (1) information about the learners and their characteristics and needs that can be taken into account in…

The purpose of this guide is to present the essential technical considerations for implementing the North Carolina Instructional Technology Plan (NCITP). It addresses three main areas fundamental to the development and execution of long-range technology plans: collaboration, connectivity, and hardware/software configurations. The first section…

This report identifies major components of the current education reform movement and considers their implications for individuals with learning disabilities. Questions are raised concerning issues of academic standards and student achievement, curriculum and instruction, accountability and evaluation, school and classroom organization, locus of…

Reported are the results of the Second International Mathematics Study describing U.S. eighth (n=235) and twelfth grade (n=156) teachers' reasons for deciding what teaching methods to employ and topics to cover in the classroom. Teacher knowledge and textbook inclusion or exclusion are the most frequently cited reasons. Implications for curricular…

This manual is intended to help educators of students with disabilities select and implement a social skills program through a five-step decision process, either manually or by use of software (available in both PC-DOS and Macintosh formats). After an introductory chapter, the second chapter focuses on what social skills are, why they are…

Sociological research on teacher decision making in curriculum and instructional development is reviewed. The Institute for Research on Teaching (IRT) shares a number of concerns with this research, including the question of who determines content, the extent to which content covered covaries with social class and sex, and teachers' conceptions of…

Argues for an increased emphasis on global education in the elementary school curriculum. Contends that cooperative learning and decision-making skills are essential strategies for effective international education. Provides suggestions for development and implementation. (CFR)

In struggling to come to grips with essential skills for beginning educators, it helps to think of the requirements of teaching. Four basic requirements of teaching are: (1) curriculum planning and implementation; (2) instruction; (3) grouping of students; and (4) evaluation. For each of the four requirements of teaching, the teacher must…

This handbook contains 30 profiles describing school-community partnerships in Massachusetts that address diverse educational issues with creative strategies and solutions. The programs exemplify one or more of the following community education principles: use of community resources to enhance curriculum and instruction; citizen involvement in the…

This case study describes the development of elementary social studies methods courses appropriate for two new alternative Michigan State University teacher education programs entitled "Learning Community" and "Multiple Perspectives." The "Learning Community" program prepares teachers to teach school subjects effectively while focusing upon the…