Section archive - Theories & Approaches

The purpose of this article is to analyse the assumptions regarding how the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is to achieve its intended effects, that is, to reconstruct PISA’s programme theory (PT) and to probe the validity of its underlying assumptions. The article demonstrates that PISA’s PT has low internal validity. PISA results to react to and reflect on their own practice, compare themselves with others, and then act accordingly to improve education systems and school practice, though no activities or resources are allocated to change school practice.

The author investigates the role curriculum-dependent and curriculum-independent factors play in influencing preservice elementary teachers’ adaptation of science curriculum materials to foster inquiry-based science. The findings suggest that the initial inquiry-orientations of science curriculum materials do not significantly influence preservice elementary teachers’ adaptation of them. These findings suggest that while preservice elementary teachers are capable of adapting science lesson plans to make them more inquiry-based, an individual teacher may be more or less inclined to engage in adaptive processes based on other factors beyond how inquiry-based a science lesson plan is to begin with. Furthermore, the findings provide evidence that preservice elementary teachers are positively inclined toward the adaptation of science curriculum materials.

The author presents an extended and fine-grained analysis of the influence of state-mandated accountability testing on one social studies teacher’s classroom practice and thinking about curriculum. Two main findings are presented in this article. First, this study sheds light on the problems and frustrations that one teacher faces when confronted with a testing apparatus that limits her instructional time with students. Second, the data add support to the viewpoint that while state-mandated accountability testing does influence classroom teaching, teachers’ beliefs about subject matter and their goals for students play an equal role in shaping their classroom practice.

In this article, the author has identified five essential ideas that could serve as underpinnings to support the preparation of early childhood educators: 1. Inquiry and reflection into practice are critical for continued teacher learning and development; 2. Learning and development are cultural and constructivist processes; 3. The teacher’s image of the child should be as a strong and capable participant in the culture; 4. The education of young children is a community privilege and responsibility; and 5. The purpose of early care and education is to enhance and support each child’s daily life experience and learning in the here and now, as well as preparing each child for future success. The author presents a conceptual framework for teacher education that incorporates these underlying ideas. She describes the way in which it is interpreted in the early childhood teacher preparation program at Mills College by a core set of principles.