Scholarly discourses call for curriculum development to be democratic and collaborative, include multiple stakeholders' perspectives, and aligned to values that promote the professional, social, and public good. Despite this, curriculum development remains an internal process: a situation challenged by a greater emphasis on employability. This…

The purpose of this heuristic case study, also informed through the tradition of critical systems theory was to explore elementary principals' "voices" in instructional decisions made by central office administrators at a large suburban school district in a Midwestern State. Six elementary principals were interviewed for this study.…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a curriculum design-based (CDB) professional development model on K-12 teachers' capacity to integrate engineering education in the classroom. This teacher professional development approach differs from other training programs where teachers learn how to use a standard curriculum and…

Presents a model for the selection of instructional leaders, based on the need to provide continuity and change, as well as competence and compassion in curriculum development. Suggests that leadership can best be provided by a central curriculum council, composed of members reflecting each aspect of the continuity/change-competence/compassion…

Discusses how educational philosopher Joseph Schwab's conception of theory applies to curriculum development. Subtopics include the relationship of theory to practice; four universal components of education and their relationships; the curriculum development group, whose composition reflects the four components; and goal-directed versus…

Describes curriculum planning processes for environmental education programs employed by secondary school teachers in Australia. Explains the phases involved with a school based curriculum project and provides a case study report to illustrate the approach. Offers suggestions for initiating and sustaining curriculum planning in environmental…

New roles for teachers in curriculum development conflict with traditional expectations. Constructing curriculum involves teachers' individual flexibility and collective uniformity. This article presents a curriculum-inquiry model that integrates elements of educational practice often dealt with in isolation (instruction, curriculum, assessment,…

Describes an operative model of secondary science curriculum development (the Secondary Science Curriculum Review-SSCR). Explanations of the levels of organization, styles of management, and role functions are stated. Characteristic elements include teacher participation, group autonomy, and shared decision making. Interaction and consultation…

Although curriculum issues still command reformers' attention, researchers recognize that academic success is tied to home and community support. Alliance for Achievement is a school-community management program that addresses the relationships among schools, homes, and communities based on locally defined and commonly held educational values. The…

Explains Total Quality Management (TQM), a participative management style, and examines its relationship to Instructional Systems Development (ISD) as it is used for curriculum development. Application of TQM principles to the ISD processes of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation is suggested. (eight references) (LRW)

Although the "what" of schooling has become clearer through a convergence of research findings, educators still do not understand the "hows" of effectively using that knowledge to make necessary changes. This paper's objectives are to argue the necessity of fundamental changes in the patterns of schooling (the "whys") and to present a conceptual…

This study examined curriculum procedures and the roles, decision-making processes, and perceptions of central administrators, building administrators, and teachers in five school districts. Qualitative data collection included taped interviews using a focused indepth interview schedule, field notes, observation, and document collection. The study…

Utilizes a case study, the Action Ecology Project, to exemplify some curriculum development issues pertinent to environmental education. Describes an action research evaluation process involving teachers that resolves conceptual evaluation and adoption problems of environmental education curriculum. (31 references) (MCO)

This paper discusses theories and practices of the politics of curriculum reform tested while working to establish a freshman seminar course at the University of Prince Edward Island. The step-by-step procedure for negotiating the approval process is relevant to all types of curriculum reform. (Author/MLW)

This practicum was designed to utilize a shared decision making (SDM) committee model as a mechanism through which a long-range, comprehensive computer technology plan would be developed for a Jackman (Maine) school system. On-site research coupled with an extensive review of current literature produced a finding that long-range technology…