Beginning Curriculum Integration: Three Middle Level Case Studies in Professional Development

Abstract

AbstractThe study focused on three middle level schools and their efforts toward curriculum integration. Particular attention was devoted to the processes of professional development which were most effective and contributed most productively to curricular change in the three settings.The study was conducted during the course of two years, during which each school began curriculum integration efforts with grade level teams of teachers. The researcher served as a consultant hired by the administration at each school during this work and was therefore a participant-observer in the research. Data was collected for the research from the researcher's journals, minutes of sessions held with teachers, teachers' writings concerning the process, videotapes of teacher/consultant sessions, and curriculum materials gathered.The research revealed four elements which impact upon successful professional development and curricular change: (a) the degree of understanding of teachers' context for their work, with particula...