Contains a scripted interchange between three caricatures (the zealous reformer, the harried committee chair, and the skeptical administrator) concerning a project for curriculum reform in a college English department. (TB)

Describes the Environmental Education Curriculum Inventory, which was used to evaluate environmental education (EE) curricula and programs to determine how well they represent EE's substantive structure as expressed in the Goals for Curriculum Development in Environmental Education. (Contains 28 references.) (Author/YDS)

Presents abridged versions of material which examines black studies at San Francisco State University that was conducted to determine the ideas promoted by the department and the academic quality of the instruction provided. Discusses the psychology and vocabulary of black studies, its literature, and its portrayal of American life and white…

This paper describes and evaluates a project which had a large number of students read a few classic works in more than one class to promote discussion of texts among students and faculty. Survey data from students and faculty indicate the project's success. (Author/DB)

Reports on a study that investigated curricular patterns in undergraduate music education courses and attempted to determine predictor variables for these patterns. Concludes that although a core content can be identified, data indicates inconsistencies in curricula across institutions and a lack of agreement regarding priorities in some content…

Evaluated effectiveness of instruction and presentation format of course on alcohol consumption and safe driving given to individuals convicted of first offense of driving while under the influence. Results showed that instructional information significantly increased clients' knowledge of alcohol and drug abuse and safe driving; course did not…

How criterion-referenced tests can be used in program and curriculum evaluations is discussed. Topics include: understanding program/curriculum environments, determining an appropriate evaluation model, and standards for determining a CRT's and an evaluation's quality. Five instructional steps are outlined, and an annotated bibliography and a…

Home economics curriculum guides were examined for the presence of global concepts. Although most curricula present global concepts, the concepts cluster in certain topics and at senior high levels. If global education is to be taken seriously, it is necessary to develop sound educational philosophical bases. (Author/CH)

Selected issues relevant to evaluating women's studies programs (WSPs) are discussed. Focus is on criticisms of traditional forms of assessment expressed by feminists and nontraditional evaluators, illuminative evaluation as an alternative approach to assessing WSPs, and a new model of evaluation termed "participatory evaluation." (TJH)

Discusses the need for an evaluation and revision of the Ph.D. programs in science and engineering to ensure that the United States maintains their status as world leaders in a variety of areas. Calls for a new Ph.D. student that has the ability to play a more frequent and prominent role in activities outside of the laboratory. (ZWH)

Both the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) have issued position statements on the use of animals in the classroom. Dissection has not become extinct, but its role is far smaller than it used to be. (MLF)

A tongue-in-cheek look at methods used for curriculum development by many colleges and universities compares the process to two others: destruction of trees and trial by ordeal. Forests are destroyed to produce large quantities of paper for printing of curricula in many versions, followed by Kafkaesque committee scrutiny. (MSE)

Analysis of a consumer education curriculum identified the extent to which modules reflected the perspectives of systems theory, life cycle model, economic exchange theory, and family member involvement model. Results showed that the curriculum assumes students live in nuclear families, neglects effect of consumer decisions on the environment, and…

Compares and contrasts four curricular models: prescriptive, thematic, KWHL, and inquiry. Diagrams characteristic features of each and discusses progressive patterns revealed and basic divisions between models of linear sequential learning versus circular recursive learning. Focuses on the latter models, especially inquiry, and on its practical…

Evaluates Brockhill Park School's efforts to incorporate environmental education into the school's curriculum. Describes the integration of features of the school site into science, history, English, travel and tourism, and art courses. (MDH)