The educational situation: As concerns the elementary school

In 1894, when John Dewey came to Chicago, US educational leaders were reshaping the elementary school, high school, and college, institutions initially aimed at different social groups, into three 'levels' of a more integrated K-16 system. At the same time, Dewey's fellow reformers were furthering the 'new education' by advocating activity-based, cooperative subjects, including nature study and manual arts for the elementary school curriculum. In The School and Society (1899), Dewey addressed the two problems of how to integrate practical co-operative activities with academic subject matters and how to connect the subject matters and learning methods of the three educational 'levels' to provide continuity throughout the curriculum and between it and out-of-school experience. The School and Society, one of the best known of Dewey's early educational writings, argued that the success of 'new education' was 'inevitable', because it was 'part and parcel of the whole social evolution'. Dewey noted that the opportunities children previously possessed for practical learning in home and neighbourhood production had been eliminated once production moved to urban factories. The earlier common schools had merely added a layer of literacy and numeracy to the base of practical thinking abilities formed outside of school. Schools in the industrial city, however, simply had to provide these opportunities themselves. Dewey's conception of experience-based practical learning to form habits of inquiry and co-operation securing democratic life was a masterful synthesis of the 'new education', and The School and Society became an educational classic inspiring educators for a century. The Educational Situation (1902), by contrast, has received little attention. The tone is decidedly less upbeat. Far from proving 'inevitable', Dewey says, the 'new education' has come up against unanticipated obstacles because it is not an 'organic part' of the 'educational whole'. The institution, he says, remains structured by mechanical features of school organization and administration that determine educational experience 'even on its distinctively educational side'. The new education will fail unless educators can put in place a new organizational and administrative structure that both conforms with the external realities of industrial society and supports new experienced-based learning activities. The three chapters of The Educational Situation analyse the difficulties inherent in fundamental structural change, and propose structural reforms for the elementary school, high school, and college. In chapter 1, which originally appeared in 1901 as a separate essay and is reprinted here, Dewey carefully delineates the interplay between organizational and administrative structures and curriculum. His analysis of the problem of curriculum change anticipates the contemporary work of such scholars as John W. Meyer, Robert Dreeben, and 388 j. dewey Larry Cuban-and defines an issue which, arguably, has not been explored as systematically in the 100 years that have followed the publication of The Educational Situatio. Leonard J. Waks     

The tension in turkish teacher education: Conflict and controversy during the transformation from an academic approach to a professional approach

Most of the reforms, which have been undertaken in the last 30 years in the Turkish educational system, are about teacher education. When we examine the teacher education curriculum from the perspective of these reforms, it has been observed that there is a controversy between the academic and professional approaches used in these curricula. While the reforms undertaken in 1982 and 1997 were in favor of the academic approach, the latest reform undertaken in 2006 was made to strengthen the professional aspects of teacher education curriculum. In this paper, Turkish teacher education reforms are introduced in the light of the professional and the academic approaches, which have always been the topic of discussions about teacher education.     

澳门小学数学课程试验与教师成长

在澳门教育暨青局与北京师范大学合作项目——澳门数学课程改革中 ,澳门实验学校的教师们转变了教育观念 ,实现了教学方式的变革 ;教师们通过教育科研 ,对教学过程的设计、教学策略的选择、教学评价等进行了理性的思考 ,从而使实践经验得到了理论的升华 ;随着课改的深入 ,教师们结合地方特色、学校特色开发了校本课程 ,教师们在课程改革中成长     

Teachers' perceptions of the recent curriculum reforms and their implementation: what can we learn from the case of Korean elementary teachers?

This study examines: 1) how Korean elementary school teachers perceive recent curriculum reforms; 2) where their perceptions emanate from; and 3) what support teachers need in order to implement curriculum reforms actively and effectively. This study has shown that teachers generally harbour negative and unconstructive feelings about curriculum reform. These feelings negatively impact their involvement in and commitment to implementing reform. Several issues to be considered for teacher training and support evolved from our analysis of teachers' perceptions of the curriculum reform and the implementation: first, teachers are insufficiently provided with professional development programmes that support curriculum implementation; second, teachers lack opportunities to work through implementation problems and difficulties with peer teachers; and last, contextual and cultural constraints inhibit implementation of curriculum reform. Based upon these findings, this study makes several suggestions for teacher educators and curriculum policymakers.     

How teachers perceive the new curriculum reform: Lessons from a school district in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The meanings that a teacher attaches to the new curriculum reforms act as his or her map on the curriculum implementation journey, and these usually determine the success of the education reforms. This research article explores the meanings attached to the new Science curriculum reforms by primary school teachers in a school district in South Africa, where the perceived meanings emanated from, as well as the role they played in the implementation of the reforms in the classroom. It is argued that new curriculum reforms have to take place concurrently with other changes in order for them to have a significant and long-lasting effect. Three possible ways will be suggested that will help the teachers to avoid formulating reform meanings that are not aligned with the vision and goals of the new curriculum.     

试论研究型课程

课程改革是当前整个教育改革的核心问题之一.作为校本课程的一种特殊形式——研究型课程,有利 于学生创新精神和实践能力的培养,将成为深化学校课程改革的新的生长点.     

The General Context of School Reform and Aspects of the Sixth Educational Plan (1971-75)

"French educational planning is planning based on manpower considerations; reforms in the school system are based on calculations of the needs of the labor market. Social components are subordinated to economic considerations. Changes in the school system place the accent primarily on creating new organizational units. Curricular changes are undertaken only if the findings of manpower studies indicate that they are useful, From a pedagogical and purely educational standpoint, French educational planning has initiated no reform tendencies. Since such a position remains beyond the scope of educational planning, reforms of this order have not taken place." (39)     

How has recent curriculum reform in China influenced school-based teacher learning? An ethnographic study of two subject departments in Shanghai,China

Curriculum reforms with a focus on helping students ‘learn to learn’ are now an established global educational phenomenon. China has been implementing such curriculum reform and this poses challenges to teachers as they need to develop new pedagogical skills and knowledge to deal with new educational demands that arise. This ethnographic study investigates the impacts of current curriculum reform on teacher learning using two subject departments from two schools in Shanghai, China. It shows that teachers direct much attention towards searching for good practices and norms of practice to encounter new curriculum challenges. Findings show that outside experts who act as ‘boundary brokers’ are crucial in teacher learning. They also identify two modes of teacher learning activities: hierarchical, which relies on imported expert knowledge; and reciprocal, which depends on exploiting local knowledge. Striking a balance between these two approaches may be the way forward.     

课程方案比较:小学与初中教师教育一体化可行性分析

时代发展呼唤小学与初中教师教育一体化。通过对中外小学教师教育课程方案与初中教师教育课程方案的比较分析，无论从培养机构、培养模式，还是从课程设置来看，实行小学与初中教师教育一体化改革都是完全可行的。它反映出我国教师教育体制改革和高等师范院校改革的基本趋势，适应我国教师培养模式和教师教育课程改革的需要，为教师职业发展奠定了坚实的基础。改革的总体思路是：以小学教师教育高等教育化为契机，以小学与初中教师教育培养机构一体化为平台，以教师教育课程体系改革为重点，重新厘定人才培养目标，调整课程结构，改革课程内容，培养九年一贯制义务教育的合格师资。     

The Changing Face of Teaching in England and Portugal: A study of work experiences of secondary school teachers

This paper reports research into the perceived effects of educational reform among secondary school teachers in England and Wales and Portugal. While the two countries have different education histories, as in most countries across the world teachers' lives and work are being affected by increased centralised interventions in the name of raising standards of achievement. In the case of England, interventions since the late 1980s have touched every facet of school government, curriculum and assessment, whereas in Portugal, this process did not begin until the late 1990s. The paper focuses upon teachers' experiences in these two communities, which are in different transition phases. By doing so it is possible, even within the different cultures, to identify common problems experienced by teachers within the reforms and their management which challenge existing identities, values and commitments and which are creating new forms of compliant professionalism.     

教师教学行为的现状分析与变革路径——以研究性学习指导教师为例

教师的教学行为对课程实施效果和课堂教学质量起着至为关键的作用。调查表明,研究性学习指导教师的教学行为呈现出多元和复杂的特征。多数教师认同新课程倡导的教学方式和学习方式,但在实践中要践行这种理念会遭遇很多困境,教师教学行为与课程改革的要求有一定的差距。变革教师教学行为的有效路径和策略包括引导教师从学生发展的角度认识教育的价值,提升教师变革动力;建构具有共同的价值观和教育理想的学校文化;重建合作开放的教师专业文化;构建基于人格和谐发展的课程评价体系;建立动态互惠的院校合作伙伴关系;以教师专业发展理论为指导改进教师培训模式,提升教师的课程实施能力等。     

新课改与教师新教材观的树立

基础教育课程改革在基础教育的各个层面引发了一系列的变革，然而传统的教师教材观由于自身的种种弊端而难以适应新课改的进行。在新的教育背景下，教师树立一种与新课改相适应的全新教材观就变得十分必要和紧迫。     

基础教育课程改革存在缺憾的原因反思

本次基础教育课程改革对学生就业分流数量大、教育经费不足、办学条件较差、教师素质整体偏低、教育人员习惯于刚性规定等国情考虑不充分,没有认真汲取国内以往课改在教育目标制定、教材多样化建设、教学实践等方面的经验教训,没有细致总结美国、加拿大、英国等国在确立教育目标、制定课程结构、教材市场化建设、教学实践改革、教学评价改革等方面的经验教训。课改理论研究不成熟,实验方案化,实践研究滞后。     

新课程实践中的小学教师角色冲突的缓解策略探究

新课程改革对小学教师角色提出了新的要求,但由于社会、学校和教育部门以及教师自身等方面的原因,在实践教学中,小学教师并没有扮演好这些＂理想＂角色,造成了教师角色冲突。为了缓解教师角色冲突：首先,社会对教师要有一个正确、合理的认识;其次,学校和教育部门要为教师提供专业成长的支持,以及要改善教育评价体系;再次,教师自身要加强角色学习,提高角色能力,进行角色整合,创造自我角色。     

A Gendered Look at Educational Reform

This article looks at women teachers' involvement in educational reform from a gendered perspective. Using qualitative data collected in interviews with secondary level educators, the authors show how women teachers' beliefs and actions towards reform efforts were influenced by their gender identity. Socialization of women as nurturers and caretakers created in many women particular notions regarding the appropriate role they should play as teachers. When an educational reform effort 'fitted' with these conceptions, women teachers became advocates for and participated in the reforms. The support and commitment by women teachers in turn facilitated the success of the reforms. However, it was also found that the overrepresentation of women in a reform effort had the potential of creating negative political ramifications. When the character or profile of the reform took on a gendered identity, it ran the risk of facing resistance by men teachers in the school, ultimately thwarting implementation.     

新课程实践中的小学教师角色冲突的缓解策略探究

新课程改革对小学教师角色提出了新的要求,但由于社会、学校和教育部门以及教师自身等方面的原因,在实践教学中,小学教师并没有扮演好这些"理想"角色,造成了教师角色冲突.为了缓解教师角色冲突:首先,社会对教师要有一个正确、合理的认识;其次,学校和教育部门要为教师提供专业成长的支持,以及要改善教育评价体系;再次,教师自身要加强...     

教师职前教育存在的问题及对策研究

新课改对教师提出了新的能力要求,如丰厚的文化底蕴、良好的教育技术能力、心理学素养、教育研究能力以及合作能力。师范院校的毕业生因诸多能力缺失,难以适应新课改下的基础教育教学。究其原因,是由于师范学院课程体系偏重于以学科为中心,教学模式相对传统,教育实践机会较少。因此,师范教育需要构建新的课程体系,建立以学生为中心的教学模式,加大学生实践的力度和深度。     

Lessons learned? School leadership and curriculum reform in Hong Kong

This paper examines the processes of implementing curriculum reform in schools. Specifically, it investigates how schools learn lessons from previous experiences of reform and apply them when challenged by new reforms. The context for this study is Hong Kong's New Secondary School Curriculum (NSSC), with particular reference to the subject of English Language. Research into the enactment of change over the last decade tells a story of weak leadership and management by policy makers, schools leaders and teachers. Key areas of weakness – poor management of change by school leaders, teachers' lack of understanding of the changes, and weak teacher collaboration – were pinpointed as reasons for the dismal results of curriculum change. This study investigates whether these areas of weakness were also in the implementation of the NSSC. Data collection comprised semi-structured interviews in nine secondary schools. The study reveals that lessons had been learnt from the previous experiences of implementing reform, and suggests that the capacity of schools to learn from a historical perspective should be taken into account in curriculum planning.