Reflecting the dominant interests of the era, the comparison
studies reviewed here contrasted three basic types of curricula,
which Goffin (1994) describes as direct instruction, traditional,
and cognitive. In direct instruction, the teacher presents information
to the children in structured, drill-and-practice group lessons
that are fast-paced, teach discrete skills in small steps, and involve
frequent praise. Traditional approaches flow from a belief
that children must direct their own learning and will learn when
they are ready, as long as the teachers provide stimulating materials and support for the children’s choices. Socialization is often
the main goal of this curriculum. Cognitive curriculum adherents
view learning as an active exchange between the child and her
environment, one key element of which is the teacher. In this
model, teachers initiate activities designed to foster children’s reasoning
and problem-solving abilities, and they interact with children
during child-designed activities to add new ideas or enhance
learning. The open classroom and interactive curricula are both
considered nondidactic because teachers rarely instruct children
in groups on discrete skills, although they do use direct instruction
with individual children.