The role of the formal written curriculum in standards-based reform

More than 15 years after the introduction of a standards-based curriculum reform, the mathematics teachers are positive towards the reform message but have not changed their classroom practice accordingly. To improve the impact of future reforms, it is important to learn from this situation and to better understand the role of the national policy documents. The purpose of this study is therefore to examine how the standards-based reform in mathematics in Sweden was conveyed in the formal written curriculum. The research questions focus on to what extent and how clearly the national policy documents convey the message. The results show that the message is present to a large extent in the policy documents, but that it is vague and formulated with complex wording. The study gives concrete examples and shows in detail in what ways the documents are vague and complex.     

Initial encounters in formal adult education

This paper reports on part of an ethnographic study of a class participating in Swedish municipal adult education. The study focuses on decision‐making and the power‐play between students and teachers, viewed as a negotiation. The qualitative analysis resulted in a conceptual system for describing the negotiations. Using this system, characteristics of the decision‐making process are described. One of the findings was that uniform explicit rules for decision‐making were lacking. Another was that students influenced decisions on certain topics, not because they were invited to do so, but at their own initiative. Students tried to influence the allocation of time and space for their studies, but left the use of time for the teachers to decide. One conclusion was that the students’ subordination was conditional.     

Alternative futures for formal education

In spite of all the current interest in discussing the future of societies and of education, there is a general absence of intelligible expectations, or images, of what the future should and can be. This paper is based on the contention that such images of the future are much more crucial than is generally recognized. After typical orientations to the future are characterized, a strategy for inventing practicable, desirable futures is outlined. Then the focus is narrowed to the realm of formal education and the proposed steps toward desirable educational futures are discussed.

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Résumé Malgré qu'on s'intéresse beaucoup récemment à discuter le futur des sociétés et de l'éducation, il nous manque des explications intelligentes ou des images de ce que sera le futur ou de ce que pourra être le futur. Cet article est basé sur l'affirmation que ces images de l'avenir sont beaucoup plus critiques qu'on ne le pense. Apres avoir esquissé les orientations typiques du futur, l'auteur propose une stratégie de formuler des futurs pratiques et désirables. Puis il concentre sur le domaine de l'éducation formelle et discute les mesures proposées pour nous amener à des buts éducatifs désirables.

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OISE     

自主课程:生命教育的重要课程载体

生命教育与自主课程,二者存在一种必然的联系和内在逻辑关系.自主课程的特征高度体现了生命教育的理念,自主课程的内容体系又集中体现了生命教育的内涵和价值追求,自主课程是生命教育的重要课程载体.     

非学历教育收益率研究

随着学习化社会的到来和终身教育体系的逐步建立 ,非学历教育将成为人们重要的受教育形式。由于非学历教育的作用越来越大 ,单纯描述学历教育的明瑟教育收益率模型已经不能全面地反映现在和将来的教育收益率 ,我们构建了一个新的教育收益率模型。     

Learning and social change: The formal and the hidden curriculum

This article reviews the learning process and ways in which it can hinder or contribute to intellectual development, the development of critical consciousness (as defined by Paulo Freire), and social change. Interviews with students illustrate that Freire's concepts are applicable to understanding the process students describe as they extrapolate the hidden curriculum, examine the effect on their learning process, and struggle to free themselves from this socialization process. In conclusion, questions are raised about the relationship between alternative educational programs and social change.     

关于高校校本课程开发的几点思考

高校校本课程开发是一种与国家课程开发相对应的课程开发策略。高校校本课程开发的主要特征表现为课程开发是民主开放的过程,能尊重学校师生的独特性和差异性,是教育制度内权利与资源的重新分配,也是课程理论与课程实践不断丰富和完善以及国家课程开发的重要补充。高校校本课程开发面临着国家政治、经济、文化改革和高校自身改革的良好机遇,同时也遇到高校内部管理体制、教育观念、师资队伍和课程开发能力等现状的严峻挑战。高校校本课程开发的基本条件为明确教育哲学、办学宗旨、改善学校组织、强化教师培训、调动学生积极性、增加投入以及加强课程开发的评价等。     

Moral education and values education in curriculum reform in China

In the new curriculum reform in China, moral education and values education have been defined from the angles of the integrity and conformity of curriculum functions. Accordingly, a new education concept based on complete/integral curriculum functions is established. By discussing the essences of the curriculum, the basis of moral and values education, integrated curriculum setting in instruction structure, the presence of emotional and attitudinal goals in the subject standards, and teaching methods, this text points out that this curriculum reform looks to moral and values education in schools. The reform also emphasizes and will guarantee moral and values education in schools. Finally, the article recommends to elementary and secondary schools the studies on moral education in class conducted by the Research Institute of Moral Education of Nanjing Normal University, one of the Key Bases for Humanities and Social Sciences Research for the Ministry of Education. __________ Translated from Global Education, 2002:12     

Globalized curriculum or global approach to curriculum reform in mathematics education

The mathematics education community has shown considerable awareness of the international status of their discipline. While internationalization of the discipline is not a new phenomenon, globalization is a relatively recent term in educational discourse. This paper presents a theoretical model towards the study of globalization and internationalization in mathematics education based on previous publication by the authors. Secondly, it identifies some key issues that have been discussed in the literature and that may require further discussion and research in the field. In particular it discusses the issue of similarity of mathematics education curricula around the world. The concept of a global curriculum is rejected in favor for more internationalized approach to curriculum reform based on collaboration between mathematics educators.     

Social literacy and citizenship education in the school curriculum

This article explores citizenship education's need to focus on both ‘political’ and ‘social’ literacy within a communitarian framework. The Crick Report (1998; see also Lahey, Crick and Porter, 1974), while recognizing that the social dimension of citizenship education was a precondition for both the civic and political dimensions, concentrated largely on ‘political’ literacy. This article examines the social dimension of citizenship education. Concern with the social dimension of the curriculum in schools is not a recent interest, but changes within society have accelerated the social demands made upon schools. At the very least, society expects schools to correct the behaviour of children and to teach them values which usually means insisting on ‘good’ behaviour. The social development of pupils has thus assumed a much greater place in the aspirations of schools. Programmes of personal and social education, together with citizenship education, invariably emphasize a range of social skills and these skills are introduced early and built upon throughout the years of schooling. An individual's sense and ability to make socially productive decisions do not develop by themselves; rather, they require knowledge, values and skills. Above all opportunities are required for children to experience social relations in such a way that they are able to operate critically within value-laden discourses and thereby to become informed and ethically empowered, active citizens.     

Implementing media education in the Hong Kong secondary curriculum

The tremendous influence of today's mass media can hardly be matched by the sum of its works from the past. There are more sources of media, more types of information and entertainment, more interactive modes for consuming these messages of the mass media in a more interconnected global village available than ever before. Since many pupils spend much of their time on the media, the call for media education is urgent. This article first describes the aims and objectives of media education, then portrays the power of the media and how the education sectors have responded. Finally, it argues for the need to implement media education into the secondary curriculum in response to proposed curriculum reform in Hong Kong.