The theme of this special issue is timely as the world becomes increasingly flat and globally connected (Friedman, 2007). By focusing on an international perspective in problem-based learning (PBL), it puts culture squarely in the center, whether it is a national or disciplinary culture. The articles in this special issue represent Thailand, South…

This study examines diversity in citizenship education within a set of boundaries where the ideals of citizenship, democracy, and education were somewhat similar. The five nations expected to be quite similar were the United States, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Even among these western…

This paper outlines the development of the social studies curriculum of the Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden (NHL), a polytechnic college in the north of The Netherlands. The following issues are addressed: (1) current developments in the labor market and in education that have to be addressed by a new curriculum; (2) the concept of 'learning how…

This booklet describes the offerings of the Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden, a large institute of higher education (a polytechnic) in the north of The Netherlands. Special emphasis is placed on the social studies teacher training programs and the social studies general and applied programs. Blending the definition of the social studies of the…

Administered questionnaires to 1,459 secondary social studies students in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands to examine age, gender, and country differences in adolescents' perceptions of classroom climate. Studied relationships between political attitudes and perceived classroom climate and between the use of…

This report summarizes responses to a public opinion survey designed to reveal attitudes towards secondary education in other countries and compares these with attitudes in the United States. The survey was conducted in the United States and 11 other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED). The other…

The unit experiences for the K-12 curriculum guide, including these for grade 4, are outlined in SO 001 139. These units initiate the study of geographic regions of the world. Emphasis in these area studies is placed on the regional topography, geographic factors, and people's economic, social, and cultural adjustment to their environment or…