Curricular reforms oftentimes cause more problems than they solve. Teachers' being kept out of curricular activities is one main reason for a reform to plummet. In this qualitative study, we examined the Malian curricular policy from two aspects -- reform and teaching and learning. Guided by Fischer's argumentative approach theory, this analysis…

In 1906, the Carnegie unit, or credit hour, was introduced to standardize U.S. public education. It defined the precise number of minutes students needed to learn a particular subject and the number of credit hours required to earn a high school or college degree. At the dawn of the 20th century, the Carnegie unit served the important purpose of…

Over the last decade, policymakers have been experimenting with competency-based education, an instructional reform that relies on flexible pacing to enable students to achieve content mastery at their own pace. In this paper, we draw on mixed-methods data from teacher surveys and interviews to examine the use of flexible instructional pacing in…

This paper analyzes the connection between a university's curricular reform and the creative ways in which actors position themselves to respond. The study takes place in a Colombian university that underwent an institutional competency-based curricular reform. This context allows us to question the ways in which different actors perceive and…

This article examines the pedagogical transformation generated by dual apprenticeship training and its impact on the Benin crafts sector. Dual training combines vocational education at training centres with on-the-job training in workshops during the week. Graduates of this programme receive a certificate of professional qualification…

Competency-based learning (CBL) systems are becoming more common in K-12 schools across the United States. A range of studies demonstrate the effectiveness of CBL for students, but less research focuses on the manner in which CBL is being adopted in teacher education. This self-study, using Reform-Oriented Collaborative Inquiry protocol, offers…

Traditionally, design -- and by extension design education -- has focused on the creation of distinct outputs (forms, artefacts, and objects) that satisfy a specific purpose and need. Historically these needs -- and often the designed outputs themselves -- have been dictated not by the designer but by clients and also through established…

Since the late 1980s, school curriculum revisions in Japan have sought to promote capabilities and dispositions that transcend subject boundaries and are often labelled 'competencies' in international curricular discourse. This study examines policy documents over the period, showing how Japanese policymakers have sought to navigate pressures…

The traditional education system is designed around time rather than learning, with a one-size-fits-all curriculum and students moving on after a set amount of time regardless of what or how much they have learned. Educators must rethink how time plays a role in education and instead put attention on student mastery, ensuring each student gets the…

The "System of Competency-Based Curriculum Design" (SCCD) framework was developed to meet the requirement for reform in competency-based education and overcome the limitations of Understanding by Design (UbD). This comprehensive framework, incorporating knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values, aligns with competency ingredients as…

Research on Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) to date has mostly focused on identifying the aspects of education that already work for Black, Indigenous, and Students of Color. Building on this important literature base, this qualitative study examines the "implementation," rather than the "identification," of CRE…

This project sought to revise the Pastoral Theology program at Shepherds Theological Seminary in Cary, North Carolina. Chapter 1 presents the history and ministry context of Shepherds Theological Seminary and the goals of this project. Chapter 2 provides exegesis of three passages of Scripture (1 Tim 3:1-7; 1 Tim 4:6-16; 2 Tim 2:1-6) to show that…

This chapter introduces the drivers for change in the credentialing market that has arisen in the new era of work and learning. It analyzes the factors that are driving interest in shorter competency-based credentials, and identifies emerging trends that community colleges might consider when structuring their credentials.

This study examined why schools and districts transitioned from traditional education systems to competency-based, the challenges and benefits school experienced, and characteristics needed in a leader for the shift in education. The study used a quantitative approach informed by survey and correlational research. The participants in this study…

This paper explores how messages for health and PE ([H]PE) within English and Welsh curricula are being re-legitimised through distinct performance and competence pedagogic models. Drawing upon Bernstein's sociology of knowledge (Bernstein, 1996. "Pedagogy, symbolic control and identity: Theory, research, critique." Taylor and Francis;…