Development Of Curriculum Materials Research Articles

Design Principles for Promoting Students’ Social Scientific Reasoning About Social Problems

Social scientific reasoning (SSR) is essential to social science education and to a democratic society as a whole. Students are challenged to analyze and reason about social problems such as social inequality, crime, and poverty. However, students experience difficulties with SSR. This study addresses the research question: Which design principles can guide teachers in designing lessons that promote social scientific reasoning? In this design-based research, four social science teachers employed a conceptualization of SSR and its levels together with three initial design principles to develop curriculum materials and activities. These design principles and curriculum materials were piloted in two secondary education classes (9th and 10th grades) and evaluated by four social science teachers, four social science teacher educators and 90 students. The study produced six design principles that can promote students’ SSR. In combination with the curriculum materials, those design principles can help develop teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge and guide the design of tasks and units that develop SSR.

Social Harmony in Diversity

SMA Negeri 1 exemplifies an institution where individuals live harmoniously, peacefully, and in alignment with the institution’s goals. This study aims to describe the “Model of Multicultural Islamic Education Development to Achieve Social Harmony at SMA Negeri 1 Tuban.” The study employs a qualitative research approach using a case study method. Data collection techniques include participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Data analysis is based on Robert K. Yin’s methodology, which involves the application of research themes through research questions, research propositions, data and data interpretation processes, unit of analysis, and naturalistic generalization. After presenting the data, it is analyzed through various academic disciplines, including religious studies, philosophy, anthropology, and socio-psychology. The research findings indicate that the model of multicultural Islamic education at SMA Negeri 1 Tuban encompasses five key components: analysis of religious conflicts, institutional policies, development of curriculum materials integrated with multicultural Islamic values, preparation of educators with an understanding of multicultural Islamic education values, and evaluation of the implementation of these values through context, input, process, and product assessments. This comprehensive approach ensures that the objectives and goals are clearly understood and achievable, thereby concluding the use of an integrated-comprehensive model based on social harmony.

Gender Differences in Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Chemistry in Samburu County, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender differences in secondary school students’ achievement in chemistry. In addition, the study sought to identify the factors that contribute to gender differences in chemistry achievement to in order to enhance the provision of equal opportunities for the learning of chemistry and all other sciences in general to both boys and girls. Cross-Sectional study design under the descriptive survey research was used. The target population of the study comprised of all the secondary school chemistry students in both public and private secondary schools in Samburu county. The accessible population were all the form three chemistry students in the county. A sample of 286 students was selected from a population of 1,238 using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Students’ Chemistry Achievement Test (SCAT) and Students’ Gender Interview Schedule (SGIS) were used to collect data. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The statistics derived included the analysis of percentages, mean, standard deviation, students’ T-Test scores and Chi-Square Test (x2 test) used to establish the relationship between culturally accepted gender roles and achievement in chemistry. The findings show that there was a statistically significant gender difference in chemistry achievement in favour of boys. As a result, boys’ schools performed better than both girls’ and co-educational schools. Boys had a high affinity and interest towards chemistry than girls. Also the culturally accepted gender roles had an effect on chemistry achievement. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education should initiate in-service programmes for teachers in science courses emphasizing on relevant scientific skills to empower teachers to provide learning opportunities that would reduce the gender differences and the effect of cultural factors known to enhance gender differences in the learning and achievement in chemistry. Curriculum developers and policy makers need to develop curriculum materials that would help to reduce the gender gap in learning and achievement.

A Comparative Textbook Analysis on Measures of Center in Selected School Mathematics Textbooks of Australia and Turkey

Measures of center have a central role in statistics education. There, however, is not much research on textbook analysis on measures of center, especially at the international level, which is crucial to keep up with the changes in a data-driven globalised world. This study aimed to investigate how selected school mathematics textbooks of Australia and Turkey present the concepts of measures of center to support students’ learning. The content analysis was based on three dimensions: (1) the organization and sequence of the concepts of measures of center across grades, (2) conceptualization of measures of center from mathematical and statistical aspects, and (3) the use of context, visual displays, and technological tools regarding measures of center. The first major finding was that the order of presentation of concepts was different in the two countries’ selected textbooks. Selected textbooks of both countries introduced measures of center formally rather than starting with an understanding of clump notion (informal understanding of measures of center). The second major finding was that both countries’ textbooks focus more on the mathematical aspect of measures of center. Selected Australian textbooks also focus more on the statistical aspect of measures of center than those of Turkey. The third major finding was that the use of context, visual displays, and technological tools also differ. Australian textbooks often used a context with research scenarios about daily life, used a technological package, and related measures of center with a variety of graphs. Findings contribute to our understanding of the differences among countries with different backgrounds in statistics education, pointing to the ways of developing curriculum materials such as textbooks.

Exploring the role of curriculum materials in teacher professional development

ABSTRACT Curriculum materials (schemes of work, lesson plans, etc.) play a complex and pivotal role in school and teacher practices. The adaptation and development of curriculum materials often constitute part of teacher professional development (PD) activities. However, compared with research examining the relationship between PD and teacher professional change, the role of curriculum materials in professional learning remains under-researched and under-theorised. We address this gap by applying a multi-perspectival approach to data from a PD programme in which teachers were supported to develop curriculum materials. We use an interconnected model to analyse the role of curriculum materials in catalysing change in individual teachers’ practice. Our use of Boundary Theory proposes that curriculum material adoption is mediated by the solidity of boundaries between school practice and research findings, and Actor-Network Theory perspectives examine the assemblage of networked relations within and beyond schools that are entangled in curriculum materials. We highlight how combining linear and non-linear perspectives may contribute to improved understanding of the complexity of supporting teachers’ learning and use our analyses to outline implications of using curriculum materials in teacher professional development.

Pelatihan Pengajar Pendamping pada Sekolah Minggu Buddha Vihara Siripada Tangerang Selatan

This research highlights the accompanying teacher training at the Buddha Sunday School (SMB) at Vihara Siripada in South Tangerang. The role of the accompanying teacher at Buddhist Sunday School Vihara Siripada has important functions in helping to develop the potential of each of the personal students of Buddha Sunday School. Therefore, the escort teacher at the Buddha Sunday School Vihara Siripada should have adequate skills and skill in conducting mentoring. One way to improve skills and skill is to follow public speaking training and the development of curriculum materials of the Sunday School of Buddhist Kemenag RI. The above skills are supported with a deepening of Dhamma material, and multi-media selection. Training in the form of seminars and Dhamma Talk adds the ability to speak, brave, and eagerly accompany the participants of the Buddha Sunday School Vihara Siripada. Skilled in developing learning materials about the Dhamma, choosing the right media, and skilled speaking good and right in front of the Buddhist Sunday School students.

Nine quick tips for efficient bioinformatics curriculum development and training.

Biomedical research is becoming increasingly data driven. New technologies that generate large-scale, complex data are continually emerging and evolving. As a result, there is a concurrent need for training researchers to use and understand new computational tools. Here we describe an efficient and effective approach to developing curriculum materials that can be deployed in a research environment to meet this need.

Curriculum materials as a barrier to the use of communicative approach to English language teaching in EFL context: examples from Tanzania

This paper examines how curriculum materials act as a barrier to implementation of communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. It has been noted that several studies report some challenges of CLT in English language teaching. Consequently, some authors conclude that CLT is useless while others observe that the reported challenges are external weaknesses caused by users of the approach. In light of this debate, this study was conducted. Two questions were the focus of the study: how do curriculum materials respond to CLT? How does the actual use of the developed curriculum materials respond to principles of CLT? Drawing on the data obtained, authors of this study argue that curriculum materials are missing essential tasks which would facilitate a smooth implementation of CLT. Consequently, features of the traditional methods are dominating the practices. Authors advocate that it is unfair to argue that CLT is useless in EFL context but we have failed to design for it. Following the noted weaknesses, researchers recommend the adoption of task-based curriculum material design to ensure rich communicative activities in textbooks and classrooms as well.

The (invisible) work of Dual Language Bilingual Education teachers

ABSTRACTThe shortage of Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) teachers is uncontested. Yet while we have focused on recruiting and preparing DLBE teachers, we have neglected exploring how to retain currently practicing DLBE teachers. This article presents a small-scale study of one aspect of DLBE teachers’ work – the selection and creation of curriculum materials in languages other than English. All six of the teachers interviewed for this study lack sufficient materials in the language in which they teach. To fill the gap, they translate English resources as well as create original material. None are given additional planning time and most state their administrators are unaware of the time they spend developing curriculum materials for their classrooms. Using an “invisible work” framework originally conceptualized by second-wave feminists, this study highlights the manner in which DLBE teachers’ bilingualism is perceived to be their natural way of being and therefore translating becomes an expected part of their job. It also highlights the importance of taking a critical look at the additional burdens DLBE teachers have in their work so that we ensure they do not lead to teacher attrition in a field where the teacher shortage is at crisis levels.

Upper Primary School Basic Science Curriculum Materials Development Process in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to explore upper primary school basic science curriculum materials development process in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. For the purpose of this study, qualitative research method, more specifically, case study design was used. Non-probability purposive sampling techniques was used to select participants from various groups. To this effect, sample of five basic science curriculum experts were selected and used as a sample of the study. Interview guides and document analysis were employed to gather information. Qualitative data analysis method was used to analyze the data. Qualitative data were analyzed through narrative description and direct quotations of the opinions of the participants. The result of data analyses revealed that curriculum experts from the Oromia Region Education Bureau, representatives from the Ministry of Education, representatives from colleges and universities were involved in the process of curriculum development. However, concerned bodies from primary school teachers, students, parents, who are the main actors of curriculum implementers were not involved in the process of curriculum development in Oromia Regional State. The study also revealed that no clearly defined model was used for the development and the selection of the components of the basic science curriculum in the upper primary in Oromia Regional State. Based on the findings, it is recommended that policy makers and curriculum developers in the region reconsider and revisit the developed upper primary school basic science curriculum materials currently implemented in Oromia regional state. Keywords: Curriculum, Curriculum materials, Curriculum development, Basic science and Upper primary school. DOI : 10.7176/JEP/10-1-08

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION OF MADRASAH IBTIDAIYAH AS TRENDSETTER MADRASAH IN PEKALONGAN

This study describes the system of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah in Pekalongan towards the process of social transformation, and the effort of strategy analysis of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah in conducting social transformation in order to become trendsetter madrasah. Madrasah, has encounter a transformation in the national education system. Madrasahs are no longer considered a complement to the national education system, but an integral part of the National Education System. By using qualitative method, this research will show two findings they are: (1) The system of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah toward social transformation process including vision impelementation system, academic standard requirement, student recruitment system, curriculum material development, teaching method system, evaluation system, environtment concelling, leadership system and decision making, risk management system of madrasah, and flat organization model system. (2) The social transformation strategy that can be done to become a trendsetter madrasah by ways of attaining madrasah’s visions and missions, enhancing the quality of human resources, and of the quality of students, improving the quality of subject materials, improving learning strategies and improving the environment.
 Keywords: Transformation, social, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, trendsetter

Engineering design skills coverage in K-12 engineering program curriculum materials in the USA

ABSTRACTThe current K-12 Science Education framework and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in the United States emphasise the integration of engineering design in science instruction to promote scientific literacy and engineering design skills among students. As such, many engineering education programmes have developed curriculum materials that are being used in K-12 settings. However, little is known about the nature and extent to which engineering design skills outlined in NGSS are addressed in these K-12 engineering education programme curriculum materials. We analysed nine K-12 engineering education programmes for the nature and extent of engineering design skills coverage. Results show that developing possible solutions and actual designing of prototypes were the highly covered engineering design skills; specification of clear goals, criteria, and constraints received medium coverage; defining and identifying an engineering problem; optimising the design solution; and demonstrating how a prototype works, and making iterations to improve designs were lowly covered. These trends were similar across grade levels and across discipline-specific curriculum materials. These results have implications on engineering design-integrated science teaching and learning in K-12 settings.

OnRamp: A web-portal for teaching parallel and distributed computing

Computer Science students must understand parallel and distributed computing (PDC) concepts to be effective computer scientists in the workforce, as reflected in the 2013 ACM Curriculum guidelines. Significant work has been done by CS educators to develop curriculum materials and increase access to parallel compute environments (PCEs) by leveraging and clustering a plethora of small multicore systems. Even with these resources there is a barrier to entry for students to use PCEs, namely the unfamiliar and complex system software ecosystem of modern PCEs. The OnRamp project lowers that barrier to entry for exploring PDC concepts on a variety of PCEs by abstracting away the details of interacting with the system and focuses the students’ attention on the PDC concepts. This top-down approach is in contrast to existing approaches involving all aspects of PDC necessarily being taught before the key concepts can be explored. In this paper we discuss the motivation, design and implementation of OnRamp, a general purpose web portal for supporting the exploration of PDC concepts that harnesses the existing educational resources created by the CS education community. It coaches students through interactive modules that teach them about PDC concepts and PCEs while allowing them to launch parallel applications from day one.

Teaching Nature of Scientific Inquiry in Chemistry: How do German chemistry teachers use labwork to teach NOSI?

Learning about scientific inquiry (SI) is an important aspect of scientific literacy and there is a solid international consensus of what should be learned about it. Learning about SI comprises both the doing of science (process) and knowledge about the nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI). German reform documents promote inquiry generally but do not equally address these two sides of inquiry. This study explores how teachers incorporate learning about SI into laboratory work in the Chemistry classroom. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 secondary school Chemistry teachers (8 of them holding a Ph.D. in Chemistry) from Germany. The results indicate that teaching NOSI is not a primary goal for teachers. Still, some aspects of NOSI seem to be more easily incorporated in the Chemistry classroom, for example, critical testing and hypothesis and prediction. Teachers state 2 main criteria to identify suitable chemical laboratory work for teaching NOSI: adaptable parameters and low level of required content knowledge. Surprisingly, differences can be found between Ph.D. and non-Ph.D. teachers’ views on teaching inquiry. The findings of this study can be used to (a) select opportunities for targeted research on teaching NOSI in the Chemistry classroom, (b) inform curriculum material development and (c) give impetus to science teacher education and professional development.

Profesores y Materiales Curriculares en la Enseñanza de la Realidad Social y Natural. Análisis de Concepciones Sobre la Práctica Reflexionada del Profesorado Andaluz (España)

Se presentan los resultados de una investigación acerca de las concepciones del profesorado sobre el uso de los materiales curriculares (libros de texto y materiales de elaboración docente) en la enseñanza de la realidad natural y social. El estudio analiza las representaciones docentes sobre los procesos de elaboración, gestión y valoración de los materiales, con la finalidad de proponer mejoras en las prácticas de aula y en las políticas educativas. El diseño de investigación se basa en la aplicación de metodologías mixtas empleando el cuestionario y la entrevista administrados a una muestra de docentes andaluces (España). Entre las conclusiones destaca el desconocimiento del profesorado en torno a las políticas de gratuidad y experimentación de los textos escolares, la escasa formación para la elaboración de materiales curriculares; y, por último, la necesidad de conciliar tradición e innovación en los futuros materiales.

Future Classroom with ICT Tools

This paper focuses on the Future Classroom. It shows the whole process of building the classroom of the future from a normal classroom. It points out the problems and questions arising during the realization of the project, highlights the benefits of some ICT tools and shows the main lines of research running in connection with this issue. The main aims of the paper are: (1) to build an Ideal Classroom for the 21st century, (2) to integrate multimedia learning environment into teacher-education, (3) to test the efficiency of the newest ICT tools in education (4) to develop curriculum materials for different ages to foster deep understanding and to motivate students through bringing real-life problems and new directions of teaching methods to school. Flexible furniture and technology is also a perfect environment for students to obtain the skills they will need in the real-life knowledge-based digital world.

Learning Progression을 적용한 중·고등학생의 '물질의 입자성'에 관한 지식과 미시적 표상에 대한 특성 분석

Learning Progressions(학습진행과정, 이하 LP)은 "과학의 핵심 아이디어(core idea) 혹은 과학 활동(scientific practices) 이해 과정을 상대적으로 단순한 체계에서 전문가의 지식체계로 논리적이고, 순차적인 단계로 정교하게 설명한 틀"로서, 한 교과 내 및 다른 과학영역들(물리, 지구과학, 생물, 화학)과 연결하여 연계적 교육과정을 구성하는 이론적 기반을 제공한다. 학습은 개개인의 선지식, 선경험, 교과교육과정, 교육과정 등의 여러 요소에 영향을 받는 복잡한 이해 과정으로, LP 단계를 모든 학생들이 동일하게 이동하지 않는다. 학생과 학습환경의 특성에 따른 이동 가능한 학습경로의 서술을 위해서는 다양한 학생데이터의 수집과 분석이 필요하다. 이러한 과정을 통해서 가설의 LP는 과학적으로 증명된 LP로 규명되며. 비로소 교과과정 개발의 틀(framework)로 역할을 할 수 있다. 본 연구는 미시간 대학 연구팀이 개발한 "물질의 본성(nature of matter)" 주요 개념에서, 하위개념인 "물질의 입자성(particule nature of matter)과 입자적 표상(submicroscophic representation)"의 LP와 관련 평가지를 우리나라 과학교육과정과 연계, 수정하여 개발하였다. 수정된 평가지와 LP는 124명의 중고등학생의 LP 경로 특성을 분석하는데 사용되었다. 학생들의 입자적 개념과 표상의 이해도, 개념과 표상 이해도 연관성을 중점으로 분석하여 관련 과학교육과정과 현장 수업의 문제점과 시사점을 도출하였다. 본 연구결과를 종합해 보면, 높은 레벨 문항의 정답을 고른 빈도수는 낮은 레벨 문항을 모두 정답으로 고른 경우에 높았으며 이는 학생들이 본 연구팀이 개발한 LP 경로로 이해과정을 정교화시킴을 알 수 있다. 하지만, 대부분의 학생들, 특히 고등학생들은 초등학교 수준의 거시적 물질의 본성 개념 LP 단계에 머물고 있으며, 중학교 수준인 미시적 표상 LP 단계에 있다. 입자적 개념과 표상 이해 실패의 주요 원인은 1) 과학적 모델의 본질, 2) 관련 선지식, 3) 미립자 표상의 이해부족으로 정리된다. 본 연구결과는 물질의 입자성과 관련된 개념, 과학활동(특히 모델링)을 증진시키고 개개인 특성에 맞는 맞춤형 학습환경 제공을 위한 학습, 교수, 평가자료 개발에 기여하는 바가 크다. 더 나아가 '물질의 본성'에 대한 LP연구와 과학적 소양 증진에 긍정적 역할을 할 것으로 기대한다. Learning progressions (LP), which describe how students may develop more sophisticated understanding over a defined period of time, can inform the design of instructional materials and assessment by providing a coherent, systematic measure of what can be regarded as "level appropriate." We developed LPs for the nature of matter for grades K-16. In order to empirically test Korean students, we revised one of the constructs and associated assessment items based on Korean National Science Standards. The assessment was administered to 124 Korean secondary students to measure their knowledge and submicroscopic representations, and to assign them to a level of learning progression for the particle nature of matter. We characterized the level of students' understanding and models of the particle nature of matter, and described how students interpret various representations of atoms and molecules to explain scientific phenomena. The results revealed that students have difficulties in understanding the relationship between the macroscopic and molecular levels of phenomena, even in high school science. Their difficulties may be attributed to a limited understanding of scientific modeling, a lack of understanding of the models used to represent the particle nature of matter, or limited understanding of the structure of matter. This work will inform assessment and curriculum materials development related to the fundamental relationship between macroscopic, observed phenomena and the behavior of atoms and molecules, and can be used to create individualized learning environments. In addition, the results contribute to scientific research literature on learning progressions on the nature of matter.

Publishing for mother tongue-based bilingual education in Ghana: politics and consequences

One often cited challenge to effective mother tongue-based bilingual education (MTBE) in multilingual countries like Ghana is the difficulty of developing curriculum and instructional materials in many languages. To explain this situation, factors such as shortage of writers and teachers in the local languages, lack of interest on the part of publishers in view of the wide availability of textbooks in multiple languages, as well as official support for dominant western languages, such as English, are cited. This paper discusses the veracity of these ‘challenges’, by examining pre- and post-independent governments’ efforts at material development to support MTBE in Ghana. The paper notes that, while most educational policies and reforms have emphasised the importance of MTBE, there has, in fact, been no concerted attempt to design and implement a language-in-education policy incorporating the urgent need to develop curriculum materials for MTBE. The paper attributes this to the lack of political will, economic reasons and the general misconceptions about MTBE.

Translating Current Science into Materials for High School via a Scientist–Teacher Partnership

Scientist-teacher partnerships are a unique form of professional development that can assist teachers in translating current science into classroom instruction by involving them in meaningful collaborations with university researchers. However, few reported models aim to directly alter science teachers’ practices by supporting them in the development of curriculum materials. This article reports on a multiple case study of seven high school science teachers who attended an ongoing scientist–teacher partnership professional development program at a major Southeastern research university. Our interest was to understand the capacity of this professional development program for supporting teachers in the transfer of personal learning experiences with advanced science content and skills into curriculum materials for high school students. Findings indicate that, regardless of their ultimate success constructing curriculum materials, all cases considered the research grounded professional development supports beneficial to their professional growth with the exception of collective participation. Additionally, the cases also described how supports such as professional recognition and transferability served as affordances to the process of constructing these materials. However, teachers identified multiple constraints, including personal learning barriers, their classroom context, and the cost associated with implementing some of their curriculum ideas. Results have direct implications for future research and the purposeful design of professional development experiences through scientist-teacher partnerships.

Students’ Preferences for Contexts and their Relevance to School Mathematics in Malawi

This paper looks at mathematics and its relevance in schools from the perspective of students' interests. It starts by discussing briefly the importance of paying attention to cultural and social relevance, and then it focuses on students' interests as one of the aspects of relevance. Findings are presented from a survey conducted in Malawi with 346 secondary school students. The study explored what students would find interesting to learn as contexts in school mathematics by indicating their preferences for some given contexts in form of a questionnaire, which was adapted from a very large cross country project (ROSME). Findings include that students are interested in mathematics for future careers and mathematics of modern technologies more than ethnomathematics and mathematics of agriculture, and there are no differences in preferences for contexts between female and male students. Most of the findings confirm findings from previous ROSME studies, particularly those situated in African countries, and therefore strengthen the arguments made earlier by these studies. This paper further argues that relevance for students includes their interests, and therefore should be considered as a factor in the development of curriculum materials and classroom activities.