The Iowa High School Curriculum Project was initiated to improve secondary industrial arts programs in Iowa. Phase I of the project addressed the following objectives: (1) completion of a review of courses, topics, concepts, skills, and attitudes currently taught and considered desirable to teach in secondary industrial arts programs; (2) prioritization of these factors for subsequent development of instructional modules and materials; (3) development and description of criteria for use in the creation of instructional modules appropriate to the secondary industrial arts curriculum; and (4) dissemination of descriptions of current industrial arts programs found to exemplify the goals, objectives, content, and instruction desired in the high school industrial arts curriculum. To accomplish these goals, researchers conducted a comprehensive review of literature pertaining to industrial arts curriculum development. In addition, they administered three surveys to Iowa industrial arts teachers to assess the basic concepts existing throughout industrial arts curricula and to identify courses and topics currently taught by Iowa industrial arts teachers. Recommendations emerging from the study included calls for reduced emphasis on semi-skilled trades and crafts, coverage of all major components of industry, and articulation of industrial arts instruction with other secondary subject areas. (Appendixes include state guidelines, textbook categorization, survey instruments and analysis of results, and discussion papers.) (MN)