JOURNAL OF CURRICULUM STUDIES (J.C.S.)
Year:2019 | Volume:14 | Issue:52 |Papers Count:7

In this paper, a content analysis study is reported seeking to assess lower secondary math textbooks with regard to deep learning of mathematical concepts. Accordingly, three topics from the seventh, eighth and ninth grade math textbooks were selected for this content analysis, namely arithmetic, algebra and numbers. During the procedure for this content analysis, each problem was considered as an analysis unit. Theoretical framework derived from the literature and modified to investigate the textbook problems with four criteria: procedural complexity, type of solving processes, the degree of repetition, Exercise/Application. The results showed that with the first criterion, almost 80% of all three textbooks’ problems were in the "low procedural complexity" category; With the second criterion, 90% of the eighth and ninth grade textbooks’ problems could be solved with the solving process "using procedures", while this proportion was 80% for the seventh grade textbooks problems. With the third and fourth criteria, in all three textbooks, the problems were mainly categoized as "repetition" (60%) and "exercise" (90%). To sum up, the results of the analysis showed that in the mentioned topics, there were a high number of low complexity exercises that can be solved by using pre-learned procedures. As a result, it could be deduced that lower secondary math textbooks are far from the intended curriculum objectives and rely further on learning through drill and practice.

This article aims to design, validate and approve the technical competency questionnaire for the technical and vocational students. In order to achieve this goal, first, in the qualitative section of this study, the codes, articles and documents were identified and codified using Maxqda12 software and through the purposeful sampling of the components of the competency of the technology. Then a questionnaire was prepared on the basis of technological competencies. A sample of 375 individuals was selected through random cluster sampling. The research instrument included a questionnaire with 150 questions. The methods used included: Holistic coefficient for the analysis of the items; expert opinion for verifying the formal content validity; factor analysis for structure; and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for credit. According to the findings, five main factors were identified: technical and technical competence, meta-competence, empowerment, labor market competence and strategic competencies (strategic). The validity of this questionnaire was obtained using Cronbach's alpha (0/85). The final questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS19 and Amos 24 software. The results showed that this questionnaire had an acceptable validity and reliability.

The purpose of the study is to provide an illustration of the curriculum of neo-pragmatism approach through the conceptual and inference methods. The features of the philosophy of Rorty (the founder of neo-pragmatism philosophy) include: the instrumental and language features of the language, the feature of the self and the community, the contradiction between public and private affairs, social solidarity instead of objectivity and critical look at the vocabulary. Regarding neo-pragmatism curriculum, it can be said that education goals are relative and variable; however, the achievement of self-development, the education of a critical citizen, the establishment of conditions for the establishment of democracy, the emphasis on the transfer of knowledge, the valuation of practical knowledge can be the goals of neo-pragmatism. Due to changes in objectives, the content is also variable and there is no consistent content. Neo-pragmatism teaching methods involve participatory learning and critical discourse. Neo-pragmatists, including Rorty, reject objective evaluation methods. In general, the goals and content, methodology and evaluation of the curriculum are flexible and adapted to the environmental conditions and so-called emerging syllabus.

This article aims to identify the factors affecting educational entrepreneurship in technical and vocational schools in Najaf Abad, Iran. The present research is a survey-type applied method with regard to the purpose and it is exploratory mixed with regard to the research method. The effective factors were identified until obtaining the theoretical saturation of the findings in the qualitative part of research using grounded theory and semi-structured interviews with experts. The population included all the vocational school students of Najaf Abad city in the quantitative part. The sample size was determined 165 by Morgan table and data were collected randomly. A researcher-made questionnaire with Likert scale was used to collect the data and face validity was confirmed and a 30 item questionnaire was distributed among the samples in order to avoid ambiguity. Reliability with Cronbach's alpha higher than 7 was confirmed. The data was analyzed using smart PLS software and the fit of model was confirmed. The findings of the qualitative section confirmed the significance of organizational, personnel, educational, educational content, intelligence, culture, managerial factors and interactions with the external environment. The quantitative findings confirmed all the factors derived from the qualitative section, except for the intelligence related factors.

This article was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the quality of pre-schools based on ECERS-R scores. In this study, 24 pre-schools are selected by two-stage cluster random sampling from city districts (eastern and western) and relevant governmental departments (ministry of education and state welfare organization of Iran). Then the quality was surveyed based on five indicators. The research data were collected through mixed method research and using ECERS-R instruments (interview and observation techniques). Next, every indicator is evaluated in 4 likert scales including insufficient, low, good and excellent. The results of this study showed that the quality of personal care routines in Qeshm’ s pre-schools based on the standard ECERS-R was at a "low quality" level with an average of 2. 6 in the continuum from 1 to 7. Most of the indicators related to quality personal care routines indicated an "undesirable" situation. Finally, operational solutions to improve quality ECERS-R standards are suggested.

The present study aims to analyze the level of consideration of social and political aspects of approved goals in of the high school textbooks using a descriptive method. The research corpus included all the high school textbooks published 2016-2017 which by considering the nature of research subject with regard to the nature of the subject, social science study books were targeted as a sample. The measurement tool was a researcher-made content analysis checklist. The results of the study were analyzed by descriptive indices of Shannon entropy analysis process. The findings showed that social and political education in the textbooks is not compatible with the goals approved for the students which could inhibit the socialization process for students.