Academic Knowledge Construction and Multimodal Curriculum Development builds a conceptual and political foundation that supports multimodal practices in education. It frames practical conversations with philosophical and theoretical concerns regarding the use of digital technologies in educational processes. Knowledge is synonymous with information and that accessing information equals learning. This book challenges such thinking. Thinking and means of thinking and rethinking affect teachers and students, and influence curriculum. Education, knowledge and thus this book, involves lived experiences of learning. Innovations and change impact teachers, learners and curriculum. As educators increasingly incorporate newer technologies in the administration, planning and implementation of instructions, revision of curriculum is obvious. Newer applications sharp thinking, imagination, sensing, observation and implementation continuously, newer forms of information and knowledge are to germinate. Broadening and widening of created knowledge will likely, force to improve curriculum. Curriculum change is evident, in this scenario but what may be the effective and valuable curriculum, this is a very eminent question stationed before us. This book explores shifts in teaching and learning, in this enlightening age of information and knowledge. By examining pat-terns and practices of knowledge construction in elementary, secondary, college and university classrooms, the authors examine commonalities and differences in practices across educational levels, disciplines, and in-school and out-of-school settings. This text presents models, ideas, examples and theories to prod critical reflections leading to praxis that acknowledges local/global contexts, histories, cultures and conceptual frameworks. I hope this book will assist the learners to get concrete and absolute, information and knowledge, and will satisfy them to all their active and unsatisfied sites.

Understanding and Shaping Curriculum: What We Teach and Why introduces readers to curriculum as knowledge, curriculum as work, and curriculum as professional practice. Author Thomas W. Hewitt discusses curriculum from theoretical and practical perspectives to not only acquaint readers with the study of curriculum, but also help them to become effective curriculum practitioners.

This book takes a fresh look at programs for advanced studies for high school students in the United States, with a particular focus on the Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate programs, and asks how advanced studies can be significantly improved in general. It also examines two of the core issues surrounding these programs: they can have a profound impact on other components of the education system and participation in the programs has become key to admission at selective institutions of higher education. By looking at what could enhance the quality of high school advanced study programs as well as what precedes and comes after these programs, this report provides teachers, parents, curriculum developers, administrators, college science and mathematics faculty, and the educational research community with a detailed assessment that can be used to guide change within advanced study programs.

What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

Americans have long recognized that investments in public education contribute to the common good, enhancing national prosperity and supporting stable families, neighborhoods, and communities. Education is even more critical today, in the face of economic, environmental, and social challenges. Today's children can meet future challenges if their schooling and informal learning activities prepare them for adult roles as citizens, employees, managers, parents, volunteers, and entrepreneurs. To achieve their full potential as adults, young people need to develop a range of skills and knowledge that facilitate mastery and application of English, mathematics, and other school subjects. At the same time, business and political leaders are increasingly asking schools to develop skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management - often referred to as "21st century skills." Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century describes this important set of key skills that increase deeper learning, college and career readiness, student-centered learning, and higher order thinking. These labels include both cognitive and non-cognitive skills- such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, effective communication, motivation, persistence, and learning to learn. 21st century skills also include creativity, innovation, and ethics that are important to later success and may be developed in formal or informal learning environments. This report also describes how these skills relate to each other and to more traditional academic skills and content in the key disciplines of reading, mathematics, and science. Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century summarizes the findings of the research that investigates the importance of such skills to success in education, work, and other areas of adult responsibility and that demonstrates the importance of developing these skills in K-16 education. In this report, features related to learning these skills are identified, which include teacher professional development, curriculum, assessment, after-school and out-of-school programs, and informal learning centers such as exhibits and museums.

Designed as per the latest NCERT syllabus and syllabi of several universities offering teacher education courses, the book incorporating 16 chapters is an up-to-date and comprehensive treatise, which deals with the basic as well as advanced topics of the field of knowledge and the field of contextualisation of knowledge (curriculum). In the opening chapters, knowledge is conceived and described in a broad perspective. This is followed by an extensive discussion on curriculum, including the various issues and concerns, different approaches, curriculum design, development and evaluation. A peep into the modern classrooms, shift in pedagogy and skill-based curriculum makes the book a complete organic entity for comprehensive understanding of the continuum of knowledge and curriculum. It is primarily intended for the undergraduate students of education and elementary education as well as for the postgraduate students of education. Moreover, teacher educators and researchers will also find the book useful. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BOOK • Presents intensive analysis of the concepts in a logical sequence • Includes practical illustrations along with clear, concise and lucid language • Follows professional and analytical approach • Incorporates flowcharts, diagrams and chapter-end exercises • Comprises a bibliography at the end of the book TARGET AUDIENCE • B.Ed./M.Ed. • B.Sc.-B.Ed./B.A.-B.Ed. • B.El.Ed. • M.A. (Education)