The purpose of the study was to explored instructors’ knowledge, attitude and practice of differentiated instruction in the case of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences of Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. The study employed a qualitative research approach with case study design. The participants were the dean, department heads and instructors of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Bahir Dar University. They were purposively selected on the basis of teaching experience and experience outside Ethiopia. Interview and FGD were used to collect data in this study. The data received were analyzed and interpreted through narration using data-driven categories formed within the scope of the three themes, i.e., instructors’ knowledge, attitude and practice of DI. The results of the analysis showed that instructors had a positive attitude towards DI. But, they showed a moderate level of knowledge of DI and it was not properly practiced yet as expected for a number of reasons disclosed in the report. It was then concluded that the prevailing practice of DI was poor. In addition to this, the trend of using the lecture method and assessing students based on paper and pencil tests were emphasized at the College. To overcome this, it was suggested that the current mode of teaching which focused on the traditional lecture method should be minimized and complemented with the implementation of other indirect instructional strategies. It was further noted that the traditional paper-pencil assessments should be either supplemented or complemented with other authentic assessment techniques like portfolio evaluation, performance and product assessments.

A well-noted scholar in curriculum Joseph Schwab claimed that the field of curriculum in the US was in a state of decline by unexamined and mistaken reliance on theory specially in the 1960s. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the Ethiopian practical experiences of curriculum development and implementation context with respect to Schwab's curriculum theory, with a focus on the crisis and renaissance of the curriculum field. To this end, different local researches, policy documents, discussion with ministry officials, and the researchers’ lived experiences were used as the sources of data. Integrated with data collection, reflection analysis was made in narrative basis. The paper suggests that the curriculum as a field is not well articulated, the six signs of crisis are existent, and the resolutions forwarded by Schwab are not in place in the Ethiopian curriculum development and implementation scenario. Accordingly, we recommended that genuine participation of key stakeholders is necessary to realize Schwab's deliberative curriculum development and implementation practices. To this effect, curriculum specialists should be organized and establish professional association aimed toward protecting the profession, safeguarding the field, providing consultation in curriculum planning, supervising school practices, and being engaged in any curriculum endeavors so that renaissance in the curriculum field will be ensured.

This study was designed to examine the contribution of placement school experiences to prospective teachers’ multicultural competence development in Ethiopia. The major sources of data were prospective teachers of the three randomly selected Teacher Education Institutes who took their placement school experiences at the respective secondary schools. Two hundred and forty prospective teachers were selected from five hundred and seventy three prospective teachers of the 2011/2012 academic year cohort using a proportional random sampling technique to fill in the questionnaire. Fifteen prospective teachers were also selected for interview using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaire and interview. The data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed using percentage and one sample t-test. Interview data were reported in words following themes made vis-à-vis the research questions of this study. The findings of the study pointed out that collaboration among prospective teachers, staffs of placement schools, and students’ parents have brought the required multicultural knowledge, attitude, and skill to prospective teachers. However, the findings noted that learner-centered knowledge construction philosophy is at its infant stage at the placement schools. In light of these findings, relevant recommendations have been made in the paper.

This study evaluates the experimental tasks of the Ethiopian grade 12 chemistry textbook vis-à-vis coverage of the essential components of science process skills (SPSs) using content analysis. All the procedures in an experiment were analyzed using rubrics of the inquiry-based task analysis inventory (ITAI) instrument. This instrument was based on 10 indicators of SPSs (observing, measuring, inferring, communicating, classifying, predicting, controlling variables, stating hypothesis, interpreting data, and formulating models). The results indicated that the most frequent basic SPS was observing (39.33%), followed by measuring (18.67%) and communicating (18%) compared to the sum total of frequency occurrence of overall skills counted in all experimental procedures. The indicators of other components of the basic process skills are at low level. Almost all integrated skills are not reflected by the experimental tasks. Therefore, we can conclude that the SPS exercised by the experimental instructions is at low level. This study recommends that curriculum developers, textbook writers, and teachers shall revisit the experimental tasks to include SPSs at a reasonable balance.

This article examines curriculum conceptualization, development, and implementation in the Ethiopian education system against the perspectives of notable progressive curriculum theories. To this end, the Ethiopian education policy and curriculum documents were reviewed against progressive curriculum orientations stemmed from Beauchamp, Pinar, and McNeil’s curriculum theories. The conceptualization of curriculum has suffered much from dizziness and blurred classifications of theories by different scholars. Despite the naming differences, value-oriented, child-centered, constructivists, re-conceptualists, social reconstructionist, and humanist theories were regarded as progressive curriculum orientations. Based on thorough reading of the literature, we came to believe that all these theories emphasize on considering learners’ interests, needs, and backgrounds either as an individual or as a group as a centerpiece in the curriculum development and implementation processes. Thus, the article analyzes the manifestations of value-oriented, child-centered, constructivists, re-conceptualists, social reconstructionists, and humanists’ theories in the whole education system of Ethiopia. On the basis of the discussions made on progressive curriculum theorists’ curriculum conceptualization, development, and implementation in the educational context of Ethiopia, relevant recommendations were forwarded.

While computer animations have the potential to assist learners in understanding difficult concepts and eliminating misconceptions, studies supporting this claim are scarce. This study investigated how the 7E instructional model integrated with computer animations affected students' conceptual understanding and misconceptions about food making and plant growth. Experimental groups were taught the 7E learning cycle model [7E LCM], and 7E LCM with computer animation [CA] while the control group was taught the conventional instruction method. A two-tiered conceptual understanding multiple-choice test and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. ANOVA analysis revealed no significant differences between groups or genders in pre-food making and growth in plant conceptual understanding [pre-FMGPCU] and pre-misconceptions test scores [pre-MC]. There were, however, significant differences in post-FMGPCU and post-MC mean scores, with the 7E LCM with CA showing better results in improving conceptual understanding and minimizing misconceptions. MANOVA revealed no statistically significant difference between male and female students' post-FMGPCU and post-MC results. It was concluded that the 7E LCM with CA enhances students' conceptual understanding and minimizes misconceptions more effectively than other instructional approaches. It is recommended that similar designs be used in biology teaching.