Selecting Curriculum Resources for Australian Schools: a Review and Analysis of Current Methods and Future Possibilities
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 405 249 SO 026 514 AUTHOR Watt, Michael G. TITLE Selecting Curriculum Resources for Australian Schools: A Review and Analysis of Current Methods and Future Possibilities. PUB DATE 96 NOTE 311p.; M.S. Project Report, University of Tasmania. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160) Dissertations/Theses Undetermined (040) EDRS PRICE MFO1 /PC13 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Curriculum Development; Curriculum Problems; Educational Resources; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; *Instructional Materials IDENTIFIERS *Australia ABSTRACT This project examines past and present activities in curriculum planning affecting the Australian educational system, and the relationship of curriculum change to prospects for improving the selection of curriculum materials used in Australian schools by investigating current developments in curriculum reform and methods for selecting materials. The project focused on identifying key elements in the decision-making process for selecting materials in the context of curriculum reform by investigating: (1) the historical context for national collaboration in curriculum development in Australia; (2) the present context for developing a national curriculum framework in Australia; (3)the procedures used by state and territory education and accreditation agencies in Australia to select and evaluate curriculum materials; (4) the practices used in a nationwide sample of Australian schools to select materials and use information services;(5) research literature on procedures used in the United States for selecting materials, and by conducting a survey of state education agencies in the United States;(6) case studies of selection procedures used in the states of California, Florida, and Washington, and by Connie Muther & Associates; and (7) case studies of services used to exchange evaluative information on curriculum materials in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The report concludes by presenting sets of recommendations to improve the match between the curriculum and the selection of materials, to improve the selection process, to increase involvement by publishers, to increase public involvement, to establish procedures for adopting and disseminating materials, and to improve implementation of materials in classrooms. Tables and surveys relating to the project are appended. Contains .a 509-item bibliography. (Author/DQE) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** O Selecting Curriculum Resources for Australian Schools A Review and Analysis of Current Methods and Future Possibilities Michael G. Watt U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 11, This document has beenreproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY 1A)111e1.. G. BEST COPY AVAILABLE TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at the University of Tasmania, January 1996. (c) 1996 Michael G. Watt All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author. 3 CONTENTS Abstract 1 Preface 3 1.Introduction 5 2. Development of National Collaboration in Australian Education 25 3. National Curriculum Reform in Australia 34 4. A History of Procedures Used to Select Curriculum Materials in the States and Territories 61 5. A Study of Practices Used to Select Curriculum Materials in Australian Schools 76 6. A Study of State-Level Policies for Selecting Curriculum Materials in the United States 110 7. Case Studies of Decision-Making Processes for Selecting Curriculum Materials in the United States 139 8. Case Studies of Services for Exchanging Information on Curriculum Resources 168 9. Conclusion 193 Appendix A 234 Appendix B 244 Appendix C 256 Bibliography 269 2 Selecting Curriculum Resources for Australian Schools: A Review and Analysis of Current Methods and Future Possibilities Abstract This project report examines past and present activities in curriculum planning affecting the Australian educational system, and the relationship of curriculum change to prospects for improving the selection of curriculum materials used in Australian schools by investigating current developments in curriculum reform and methods for selecting materials.The project focuses on identifying key elements in the decision-making process for selecting materials in the context of curriculum reform by investigating: (1) the historical context for national collaboration in curriculum development in Australia; (2) the present context for developing a national curriculum framework in Australia;(3) the procedures used by state and territory education and accreditation agencies in Australia to select and evaluate curriculum materials; (4) the practices used in a nationwide sample of Australian schools to select materials and use information services; (5) research literature on procedures used in the United States for selecting materials, and by conducting a survey of state education agencies in the United States; (6) case studies of selection procedures used in the states of California, Florida, and Washington, and by Connie Muther & Associates; and (7) case studies of services used to exchange evaluative information on curriculum materials in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.The report concludes by presenting sets of recommendations to improve the match between the curriculum and the selection of materials, to improve the selection proces, limiedbe involvement by publishers, to increase public involvement, to establish procedures for adopting and disseminating materials, and to improve implementation of materials in classrooms. 1 PREFACE The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance given by a large number of people in the research and development of this project.In particular, the author wishes to acknowledge the contribution made in 1995 by Professor Kerry Kennedy of the Faculty of Education, University of Canberra, for reviewing the report, offering expert advice on improving the organisation of the content, and providing a framework for structuring the report. School administrators, teachers and teacher- librarians in a sample of schools from all states and territories in Australia responded to a questionnaire survey providing data on the procedures used in their respective states and territories for selecting curriculum materials and providing information services as reported in Chapter 5. Personnel in many state education agencies in the United States responded to a questionnaire survey providing data on the procedures used in their states for selecting curriculum materials and providing information services as reported in Chapter 6. In particular, the author wishes to acknowledge the assistance given by the followingindividuals in providing information on particular topics described in this report. In chapter 3, the author wishes to thank the following persons for their assistance in providing information on curriculum collaboration in Australian education. Warren Brewer, Curriculum Manager of Curriculum Corporation from 1990 to 1992, provided information on the early stages in collaboration to develop the national statements and profiles.Noel Simpson of the Quality Schooling Branch, Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training, and Helen Trotter of Curriculum Corporation, are thanked for providing information, reviewing and editing the passage about the market research study and guidelines for the development of curriculum materials. The author wishes to acknowledge the contribution made to reporting curricula and assessment systems in the states and territories by the following people: Lindsay Wasson of the New South Wales Department of Education, Jennifer Allum of the New South Wales Board of Studies, and Amanda Standish of the Profiles and Outcomes Review Secretariat; Catherine Herrick and Susan Dennett of the Victoria Directorate of School Education; Robin Sullivan and Brian Rout of the Queensland Department of Education; Stephen Blight of the Educatibn Department of South Australia; Robert McCreddin of the Education Department of Western Australia; Tim Doe of the Tasmania Department of Education and the Arts; Dianne Kerr and Allan Hird of the Australian Capital Territory Department of Education and Training; and Nicholas Cockshutt of the Northern Territory Department of Education. In chapter 4, the author wishes to acknowledge the contribution made to reporting selection procedures used by education and accreditation agencies in the states and territories by the following people: Lindsay Wasson of the New South Wales Department of Education, Jennifer Al lum of the New South Wales Board of Studies; Catherine Herrick and Susan Dennett of the Victoria Directorate of School Education, and John Firth of the Victoria Board of Studies; Brian Rout of the Queensland