ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces and defines standards as a key concept in curriculum. Standards are about measurement, and learning standards are one of the most important issues in public education today. Yet, there is little agreement about the nature of a standard. In this chapter, the history of standards in education, and the standard-based approach to curriculum in the United States and around the world, are introduced. Research about the impact of this policy direction is briefly summarized, and challenges with/to this approach described. This introduction to the concept of standards in curriculum theory is accompanied by two personal reflections on the key concept from the perspectives of educator and student, who further explore standards in the context of teaching and learning. The chapter concludes with some suggested discussion questions for use in curriculum studies courses and by curriculum theory students.
