Introduction

We are living in an age of rapid and widespread social, economic, and political change. In the United States, the overall pattern and specific nature of these changes are fundamentally altering the character of American society. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reflects the changes that are occurring in basic attitudes about the aims of education, the process of teaching and learning, and the ways in which children grow and develop. It includes detailed case studies and curriculum descriptions that cover a wide range of age groups from preschool to high school in both public and private institutions. The book focuses on the issues of institutional form. It explores the movement in the design professions toward the use of systematic design and planning methods, which are based on a commitment to ongoing evaluation research.