Curriculum

Purpose: One of the methods of curriculum design is based on the positive education approach. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design and validate a curriculum model based on the positive education approach in Iran's secondary education. Methodology: This study was applied and mixed-methods in terms of objective and implementation, respectively. The research population in both design and validation parts consisted of experts and scholars in the fields of educational studies, educational management, educational psychology, and research and planning experts for the compilation of secondary education textbooks. The sample of this study, based on the principle of theoretical saturation, included 22 individuals who were selected through purposive sampling and were subjected to semi-structured interviews and completion of a researcher-made questionnaire. The data obtained from the interviews and questionnaires were analyzed using coding methods based on grounded theory, exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. Findings: Coding findings revealed that for the curriculum model based on the positive education approach in Iran's secondary education, 50 components were identified in 4 categories: causal factors (16 components), contextual and intervening factors (18 components), strategies (8 components), and effects and outcomes (8 components). Validity was confirmed through triangulation method and peer review, and reliability was calculated at 77 percent using the inter-rater agreement method. Findings from the exploratory factor analysis showed that the factor loading of each of the 50 components was appropriate, and 11 components were able to explain 86.4 percent of the total variance of the curriculum based on the positive education approach in Iran's secondary education. Structural equation modeling findings indicated that the curriculum model had a suitable fit and significantly impacted all four categories: causal factors, contextual and intervening factors, strategies, and effects and outcomes. Conclusion: Curriculum specialists and planners, based on the categories and components of this study, can take effective steps towards improving the curriculum based on the positive education approach in Iran's secondary education.

Purpose: The present study aimed to design a curriculum model for citizenship rights for students in the second period of elementary education. It sought to examine the components of the citizenship rights curriculum, introduce the main components and categories forming this field, and ultimately provide an ideal model in line with needs assessment and educational context. Methodology: The methodology of this study was qualitative, utilizing a grounded theory approach. The collection and formulation of model categories involved 21 structured interviews with experts and teachers in the field of citizenship and civil rights education, followed by the validation of the proposed model using a member checking method. Findings: The findings of this research presented a model comprising 11 main categories including causal conditions, performance-based planning, contextual conditions, contextually oriented performance-based planning (political, economic, cultural, legal, and citizenship orientations), interveners (characteristics of teachers and learners), strategies (initial, educational, and feedback), and outcomes (enhancing student performance levels and creating a sustainable curriculum). Conclusion: Specialized multi-faceted planning was identified as the core category of the model. Finally, recommendations were provided.

Purpose: Given the importance of proper implementation of the primary mathematics curriculum, this study aimed to identify the effective contextual and moderating components in the implementation of the primary mathematics curriculum. Methodology: This study was applied in purpose and qualitative in approach. The research population consisted of expert teachers in the field of primary mathematics curriculum in Tehran during the academic year 2020-2021, from whom 16 were selected based on theoretical saturation using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The research tool was a semi-structured interview, the face validity of which was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was obtained with a Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of 0.86. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA-2020 software. Findings: The findings revealed that in the model of effective components in the implementation of the primary mathematics curriculum, for contextual components, 17 basic themes were identified under 4 organizing themes including social, cultural, economic, and structural, and for moderating components, 20 basic themes were identified under 3 organizing themes including advantages of learning mathematics, barriers to learning mathematics, and facilitators of learning mathematics. Ultimately, a model of effective contextual and moderating components in the implementation of the primary mathematics curriculum was illustrated. Conclusion: According to the results of this study and considering the effective contextual and moderating components in the implementation of the primary mathematics curriculum, it is necessary for specialists and curriculum planners to utilize strategies compatible with the identified components to improve the educational system.

Purpose: The current research was conducted with the aim of designing a curriculum model for adult literacy. Methodology: In terms of purpose, this research is fundamental-applied, and regarding data type, it is qualitative. The population in the study included experts from the organization (literacy movement managers, deputy ministers of curriculum education) and academia (university faculty members), as well as 30 relevant scientific documents and records. In this research, purposive sampling was used to determine the samples, considering 20 individuals based on the saturation principle as the sample size. Semi-structured interviews were utilized in the qualitative part of the current study. To ensure the validity of the tool in the qualitative section of the research and to ensure the accuracy of the findings from the researcher's perspective, opinions from professors familiar with this field and academic experts who were knowledgeable and skilled in this area were sought. In the current study, test-retest reliability and intra-subject consensus method were used to calculate the reliability of the interviews conducted. The data analysis method in the qualitative section was theoretical coding. Therefore, the analysis of data obtained from interviews and documents was carried out in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, and based on this, the concepts and categories of the research were classified. Findings: The results of the research showed that the objectives of the adult literacy curriculum include adaptability to the environment and strategic competencies. Also, the content of the adult literacy curriculum includes content selection and content organization. Teaching and learning methods in this research include the transmission method and the activity-based method. Finally, the results showed that the evaluation method of the adult literacy curriculum includes goal-based evaluation, method-based evaluation, and content-based evaluation. Conclusion: Each theme and its subthemes underscore the comprehensive approach required to design an effective adult literacy curriculum. The curriculum must be adaptive, strategically competent, well-organized in content, employ effective teaching and learning methods, and incorporate multifaceted evaluation strategies to meet adult learners' diverse needs and promote sustainable literacy education.