The OECD study of innovations in science, mathematics and technology education

Under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 13 countries prepared 23 case studies of innovations in science, mathematics and technology education between 1992 and 1995. While there were important differences across countries - particularly in the impetus for the innovations - there were significant similarities in the programmes themselves. In particular, all the countries that participated in the study were developing curricula that were more practical and more integrated. Other general features of the innovations included strong participation by classroom teachers in designing the new courses, serious attention to student diversity, introduction of new assessment techniques, and an emphasis on scientific ways of knowing.