The Analysis of Curriculum Materials. University of Sussex Education Area Occasional Paper 2.

Part of a research project for the investigation and development of techniques for the analysis of curriculum materials, this document explores possible roles and goals for curriculum analysis in Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, and the United States. The methodology of the project includes four main types of activity: (1) reading, consultation, and reflection; (2) producing analyses of different types of curriculum; (3) teaching curriculum analysis to experienced teachers; and (4) conducting one-week workshops for people without any background in curriculum. The focus of the project is on curriculum analysis of materials for either pupil or teacher which have a significant influence on decision making at the curriculum level. Following the introduction of the project and its rationale, the second chapter sets out to define curriculum analysis and its relation to curriculum evaluation, curriculum criticism, preservice teacher education, and inservice education. Chapter three includes a review of published schemes for the analysis of curriculum materials from several countries. The fourth chapter examines the Sussex scheme which was developed from the investigation of the other curriculum analysis systems. The final chapter presents the training process of curriculum analysis. (Author/JR)