Reviews the development of the competence movement in Great Britain as well as the related literature. Distinguishes four broad categories of research: (1) technical; (2) evaluative; (3) sociological; and (4) miscellaneous topics. Contains 98 references. (DDR)

Presents the view that deductive mathematical proof offers the purest form of how to distinguish right from wrong. Investigates students' understandings of proof and the proving process in mathematics. Contains 32 references. (DDR)

Focuses upon the way visions for early childhood are expressed through curricula in England, New Zealand, and Reggio Emilia in Italy. Includes curricular examples illustrating how growing pressure from vocational and instrumental influences affect progressive and socioculturally inspired early childhood curricula. Reveals how curricula and…

Discusses the use of computer-generated text analysis to provide diagnostic information regarding students' writing. Describes a study of 12 stories written by grade 6 students in the United Kingdom that used computer-generated text analysis to determine whether the writing met the criteria for National Curriculum levels of attainment for the…

Describes part of a project that investigated pupils' attitudes to National Curriculum core and foundation subjects at Key Stage 3 during 1993 and 1994 in a range of schools across South Wales. Reports that English remains very popular (second only to physical education) among boys and girls, though particularly among girls. (TB)

Describes a longitudinal study conducted at the University of London (England) that investigated the prior instructional technology (IT) experience of Post-Graduate Certificate in Education students. IT skills and the National Curriculum are considered, and implications for IT training within initial teacher training courses are discussed. (LRW)

Explores the use of computer software such as databases and concordancing programs in the analysis of mathematical texts in the secondary classroom. Reports on research into aspects of the mathematics register at the individual word level, tracking the development of a single lexical item "diagonal" through the various national…

British math teachers' accounts of their classroom life show how their daily work builds classroom culture and how they have been limited by the imposition of the National Curriculum. Because of it, teachers construct a position of neutrality about student achievement despite the way they shape the learning conditions that influence it. (SK)

Finds variable coverage of Earth Science topics in the United Kingdom among General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) double-award science syllabuses and examination papers. Concludes that the levels of error in the examination papers were high and that Earth Science questions showed lower levels of demand and higher levels of recall than…

Reports on the replication of a study of teaching styles from the 1970s. Explores possible relationships between class size and the quality of teaching in 60 classrooms. Suggests some reasons for teachers choosing teaching strategies that are ineffective. (DDR)

States that Great Britain's National Curriculum pre-20th century list of prescribed authors is overloaded with unrealistic choices. Reports on a small-scale survey of actual choices made by teachers from this list. Calls for further research. Discusses teaching treatments of actual texts and makes a case for recognizing the work of the poet John…

Discusses how to develop teacher subject knowledge for effective delivery of the program of study at the primary level. Indicates that providing teachers with the necessary skills and confidence is complex. Contains 27 references. (DDR)

Compares results from a 1998-99 survey of Mexican teachers' viewpoints with data from 1978-79. Discusses teacher demographics, attitudes concerning their training, class size, use of the official curriculum, adequate supplies, materials and activities supplementing the official curriculum, time devoted to various areas of reading, attitudes toward…

Observation of 10 British simulations in which student teams created and marketed a product showed the following: students were more motivated and thought the activity relevant; involvement of business/industry staff increased student response; and students preferred cooperation even though the simulation was meant to be competitive. (SK)

Discusses treatment of 'the nature of science' in the National Curriculum of England and Wales. Offers analysis based mainly on texts of the various policy documents that have been produced since 1989. Claims that two conflicting versions of the nature of science can be detected within these documents, one essentially empiricist, the other…