Policymakers and industry leaders are calling for a 21st century education that is more interdisciplinary in nature, including the ability to solve problems and think creatively. Traditional teaching practices that present subjects as separate and distinct disciplines do not encourage students to make connections between subjects in school and in…

In this study, the characteristics of teachers that motivate their implementation of reform curriculum, and the factors that influence the teachers' success in implementing the curriculum are investigated. In particular, teachers' internal struggles, frustrations, collegiality, and classroom successes during the implementation of the reform…

This article presents a study exploring the beliefs, knowledge, and practices of four middle and secondary science teachers participating in a collaborative curriculum action research project. Using a case study methodology, the views and practices of these teachers were described and analyzed as they investigated novel ideas about scientific…

School curriculum and its impact on teaching and learning have received more and more research attention both in the United States and in the international context. For example, the Third International Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS) took curriculum and its different forms in the process of curriculum transformation as a guideline to…

Reformers seeking to increase student understanding and interest are looking to collaborative partnerships to support improved science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching. At the college level partnerships across colleges are encouraged by reformers in order to provide all students with strong content understanding, model…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" in 1989 was pivotal in mathematics reform. The National Science Foundation funded several curriculum projects to address the vision described in the "Standards." This study investigates students' learning in one of these "Standards"-based curricula, the…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between different types of professional development, teachers' instructional practices, and the achievement of students in science and mathematics. The types of professional development studied included immersion, examining practice, curriculum implementation, curriculum development, and…

Examines how selected U.S. and Asian mathematics curricula are designed to facilitate students' understanding of the arithmetic average. Discusses similarities and differences of learning goals, focuses, and concepts among U.S. commercial, Asian, and U.S. reform curriculum series. (Author/KHR)

Describes how prospective elementary teachers examined, analyzed, and evaluated four students' written responses on a graphing task for an end-of-course performance assessment in a mathematics methods course. Provides evidence of the prospective teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. Indicates the importance of process and correct answers and…

In light of recent reform documents in science and mathematics, all teachers need to think more carefully about the importance, meaning, and nature of the outcomes students are to achieve. Further suggests that teachers must critically analyze any discrepancies between what they advocate instructionally and what exists in the professional…

Reports on a project designed to develop an inquiry-based approach to curriculum and instruction in a general chemistry course. Reports that a major objective, met in various ways, was to develop a laboratory curriculum that meshes intimately with lecture. (Author/MM)

Describes a reform effort for the undergraduate curriculum utilizing action-based research teams that developed, implemented, and assessed constructivist approaches to teaching undergraduate science content. Results indicate that the collaborative action-based research process was effective in contributing to the reform of undergraduate teaching.…

Describes knowledge for teachers as curriculum designers and a framework for interdisciplinary unit development. Includes an example of the framework in action. (Author/MM)

Discusses some of the benefits of talent searches and how they are helpful when planning curricula for mathematically talented students. Contains 17 references. (Author/ASK)

Describes several studies that challenge conventional wisdom regarding the teaching and learning of nonstandard and standard unit, rulers, and measurement sense. Discusses the educational implications of their results. (Author/CCM)