Paradigm Shift Of The Curriculum Study In America And Inspiration On The Curriculum Reform In China

We are now having fundamental curriculum reform in China and are facing the same problems which the American scholars have met just like the value and idea of the curriculum, how to develop curriculum,how to absorb and guide the teachers to join the curriculum development and execution, so we can take lesson from them. I want to study the paradigm shift of curriculum in 1970s in America and take advantage of it.The thesis consists of seven parts, first is preface that explains the background , conception of the paradigm of curriculum and method.The first chapter shows the history of the paradigm study of curriculum in America. Before 1970s, the American scholars always discussed the way to develop curriculum effectively which was based on the "value neutrality" and "Tyler principle" is one of them. After 1970s,the paradigm changed and turned to understand curriculum which is aimed to understand the value of the text and defied the domination role of "Tyler principle".The second chapter reveals what elements caused the paradigm shift. One reason is the requirement of the society,economic and culture;the other is the need of the subject to develop itself.The third chapter reviews the practice of the curriculum reform in America under the new paradigm. The administration realized that the tradition impeded the will of the government and began to enforce the lead of the government and the relevant laws; the other way is to enforce the training of the teachers.The fourth chapter considers the trend of curriculum study. I put forward that although curriculum development and curriculum understanding are the reflection of different time,they are not opposed. On the contrary, they can be put together. At the same time,the integration of various methods makes a good basement for further development of curriculum study.The fifth chapter is the lesson and inspiration on the curriculum reform in our nation. Firstly,the curriculum study in China focus on the tool use and neglects the relation between the curriculum and people and not care about the spiritual development; secondly, the curriculum study should take the task of culture construction;lastly, teachers are the executive, they should be trained before and after the career. The sixth chapter is the conclusion which shows the main idea of the thesis and shortcomings.