In this paper, we consider the design of capstone courses to prepare university students for secondary school teaching professions in initial training. Our aim is to prepare prospective teachers to develop an approach for doing mathematics which they then impart to their pupils. This posture involves systematically questioning the mathematical…

There is considerable national interest in STEM initiatives, but yet there is little discussion concerning what STEM means in terms of a curriculum concept to be applied to school programming. This article focuses on STEM as a curriculum concept. First, STEM programming is discussed in terms of separate subjects, correlated and broad fields…

In the last two decades, there have been various calls for reform in teacher education programs to address the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and students with disabilities. Consequently, many teacher education preparation programs are reviewing and redesigning their programs to meet the needs of the…

Earth Systems Science (ESS) is emerging rapidly as a discipline and is being used to replace the older earth science education that has been taught as unrelated disciplines--geology, meteorology, astronomy, and oceanography. ESS is complex and is based on the idea that the earth can be understood as a set of interacting natural and social systems.…

This study contextualized the use of the engineering design process by providing descriptions of how each element in a design process was integrated in an eleventh grade industry and engineering systems course. The guiding research question for this inquiry was: How do students engage in the engineering design process in a course where technology…

The role of curriculum in the official educational process is widely recognized by the international scientific community. Beginning in the 19th century, and perhaps even earlier, curriculum research began, not only to be systematized, but to also constitute an autonomous field of study. On the other hand, curriculum evaluation has captured the…

Several concerns regarding a shift from separate science disciplines to unified science in the secondary school are expresed. As an alternative, a life science--materials science diversion is proposed with applied sciences in each division providing an overlapping of areas. (CP)

This report discusses some of the characteristics and benefits of an interdisciplinary curriculum, as well as practical considerations involving the introduction of such a curriculum in elementary and secondary schools. To successfully introduce an interdisciplinary curriculum, teachers and administrators need to: (1) integrate the curriculum; (2)…

This book addresses issues relevant to the development of a coherent curriculum. A "coherent" curriculum is one whose parts are unified and connected by a sense of the whole. Following the foreword by Arthur W. Steller and the prologue by James A. Beane, the introduction (1) by James A. Beane raises a number of questions related to the search for…

Reported are the results of an eight-item questionnaire survey of 31 educators (high school teachers and others) representing a nationwide sample of individuals believed to be currently involved in a unified science program at the high school level (grades 9-12). This survey was designed to determine the relationship of unified science to…

The two major models of science curriculum change, textbook revision and national curriculum projects, are derived from, and reinforce, the present curriculum structure. This is undesirable in a time of increasing fluidity and change, because adaptation to new situations is difficult. Unified science, based on the premise that science is a unity,…

Curriculum organization, particularly in the secondary school, should provide for continuity, sequence, and integration of knowledge. There are five basic schemes of organization discussed in this article. (Author/WD)

After a two-week introductory period, participants in the Unified Studies Program at Boston State College will engage in a study of eight important institutions chosen by students at a planning session in November. Each institution will be dealt with for one full week. After the spring vacation, small groups (4 or 5 people) will engage in…

Discussed are the theoretical bases of a university social ecology program expressed in biology, sociology, and psychology. It emphasizes man as a biological organism interacting in a cultural-physical environment. Since the program is multidisciplinary and community-oriented the organization is by problem area such as man-environment interactions…

In the increasingly complex and competitive global marketplace, many students seek to gain multiple skills and credentials that can aid them in their career goals. One such career strategy weds a general overarching comprehensive degree with a specific and targeted skill set. This paper provides a viable curriculum path for students who seek…