Questions of what to teach and what ought to be taught in the public schools are explored. Before addressing the current controversy about content in education, it is important to know as precisely as possible what has actually been taught and whether the teachings have been effective. The content of school history, literature, and language is…

This study compared reading and writing demands at a city high school and an urban university across the following disciplines: biology, English, history, and political science. Analysis revealed five generalizations concerning high school disciplines: (1) in-class activities and student requirements for courses are tied to the course text which…

The intent of women's studies, the academic arm of the women's movement, is to create critical space where the debate over power and the production of knowledge can occur through the argument that the exclusion of women from the knowledge base brings into question that which has passed for wisdom. A survey was designed to provide a descriptive…

A three-year project was conducted to develop a competency-based college major aimed at preparing contemporary nurses, both basic preservice and degree completion R.N.'s to deliver family-centered care in acute settings or community health settings. The competency-based major was developed using a conceptual framework that introduces…

A computing literacy course at Michigan State University for non-computer science students was designed with a fixed course structure and continuously changing course content. The structure provides feedback for assessing students and revising content to meet the changing demands of client departments, changing student experience, and changing…

Compares two methods of teaching in two grade seven science classes in Ontario (Canada) that illustrate how students can attain different sets of objectives while mastering the same subject matter topic. Shows how different sets of classroom events can be interpreted in terms of differing curriculum emphases. (Author/LC)

A survey of 43 master's social work students enrolled in a required course on diversity and oppression investigated the course's effect on their understanding of their social identity, on cognitive and affective changes as students considered the effects of discrimination and oppression, and on students' discoveries about barriers to and resources…

It is argued that a traditional, historically-oriented course in 17th- and 18th-century French civilization continues to be an appropriate and effective approach for undergraduate French study, in preparation for later, more sophisticated cultural analysis. Four course components are discussed: class lectures; literary text selection; textbook…

Implementation of an electronic-mail track as one option within a four-year medical humanities curriculum was seen by participating students as more educational than lectures, "live" group discussions, problem-based exercises, and formal papers. Participants made gains in computer literacy, critical thinking about ethical and social…

Discusses the history and design of a project to integrate material on the internment of Japanese Americans in the Second World War into the curriculum at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Proceedings of a seminar to develop the process are also reviewed, with suggestions for the future. (SLD)

Compares the 1995-96 curricula of U.S. optometry schools, focusing on clock hours and proportion of curriculum devoted to specific content areas. Results indicate greater variation in some areas than in others, and changes in curricular emphasis since a previous study, particularly consolidation in hours devoted to basic sciences and expansion in…

The American way of life rests on a foundation of rational thought and civil behavior. Simply put, the strength of America depends on its culture--the set of beliefs, values, and behavioral norms to which most citizens adhere. Most educators have always viewed schooling for character and citizenship as a fundamental purpose of public education.…

It is a well-known theory and practice among early childhood educators that building early relationships with the children is crucial to their development. However, there is irony in the fact that many teacher education programs that propose to model "best practices" do not model relationship building with their preservice teachers. This study…

To explore the effects of web-based instruction (WBI) on math anxiety, the sense of mastery, and global self-esteem, we use quasi-experimental data from undergraduate statistics students in classes assigned to three study conditions, each with varied access to, and incentive for, the use of online technologies. Results suggest that when statistics…

Intended to assist educational leaders by identifying recommendations from the report, "A Nation at Risk," that are relevant to reading and literacy and by suggesting instructional guidelines consistent with both the report and current reading research, this booklet presents policy guidelines in the following areas: (1) literacy…