This paper begins with a discussion of Canadian and international work that has identified a number of shortcomings with standardized assessments, which are framed within neoliberal ideology. It then explores the principles of good assessment and applies them to an analysis of British Columbia's standardized Social Studies 11 exam. It finds that…

A number of recent reports note that colleges of education could do a better job in technology training. Most evident in these reports is the call for teachers to learn how to integrate technology into their instruction, rather than just learning technology skills in isolation. To heed recommendations and better respond to student needs, the…

The Project Social Studies Curriculum Center at the University of Minnesota developed this teacher's guide for an eighth grade course on Our Political System. The course, part of an articulated curriculum for grades K-12, draws heavily upon political science while using concepts from other social sciences. The emphasis is on decision-making at the…

This paper discusses the need for teaching about aging as part of the school curriculum; examines some of the important issues about aging in American society; relates aging to the various disciplines of the social sciences; and suggests teaching strategies, learning activities, and resources materials for grades K-12. The first chapter answers…

Guidelines are provided in this handbook for secondary level teachers on how to develop and use case studies in their social studies and economics classes. Among the contents are the following: (1) a description of the case study method and its educational goals; (2) the act of case discussion; (3) questioning techniques to use and sample…

This teacher's guide to unit three of the second-semester "Comparing Political Experiences" course provides specific objectives and instructional procedures for each of five activities that focus on the United Mine Workers of America (UWMA). In addition, the guide provides instructions for coordinating the use of the student book,…

This teacher's guide to unit 5 of the 12th-grade second-semester "Comparing Political Experiences" course provides specific objectives and instructional procedures for each of the five activities that focus on the case study of the Cummins Engine Company. In addition, the guide provides instructions for coordinating the use of the…

This teachers guide to unit two of the second-semester "Comparing Political Experiences" course provides specific objectives and instructional procedures for each of the four student activities on the Boston busing controversy. In addition, the guide gives instruction for coordinating the use of the student materials, audiovisual…

This teacher's guide to unit four of the second-semester "Comparing Political Experiences" course provides specific objectives and instructional procedures for each of five activities which focus on the smog problem in Riverside, California. In addition, the guide provides instructions for coordinating the use of the student text,…

This case study recounts the attempts of two school districts to improve decision making on the adoption of a new elementary social studies curriculum by using formal evaluation methodology. The study's main objective was to develop a series of criterion referenced (mastery level) tests from a list of social studies objectives to determine whether…