by Forrest W. Parkay
The eighth edition of Curriculum Planning is a selection of readings that presents the knowledge, skills, and alternative strategies needed by curriculum planners and teachers at all levels of education, from early childhood through adulthood. The book offers a variety of learning experiences for students with wide-ranging interests, learning styles, and backgrounds.
Part I, “Bases for Curriculum Planning,” emphasizes the development of knowledge and skills in the three bases of the curriculum – social forces, human development, and learning and learning styles. Part II, “Developing and Implementing the Curriculum,” includes two new chapters: Chapter 5, “Developing the Curriculum,” examines curriculum designs that can be used to develop (i.e., write) curricula. And, Chapter 6, “Curriculum and Instruction,” focuses on the interrelationships between curriculum and instruction. Part III, “The Curriculum in Action,” emphasizes the application of curriculum planning skills for educational programs for children; early, middle, and late adolescents; and adult learners. At each level, current trends, innovations, and issues are examined from both theoretical and practical viewpoints.
The eighth edition includes 43 new articles, nine of which were written for this book, and two new chapters: Ch. 5 “Developing the Curriculum” and Ch. 6 “Curriculum and Instruction.”