Comparative Study of Iran and the UK national curriculum based on the principles of Mind, Brain and Education

Abstract

This study compares the national curriculum of Iran and the UK to find out how the educational system in
developing countries such as Iran can be improved. Because of implementing thinking skills and cognitive education,
the educational system in the UK benefits from a high-quality standard. The science of mind, brain, education
introduces some principles to improve teaching and learning methods and provide thoughtful and lifelong learners
for the societies. In this study, we specified the main parts of the national curriculum in both countries and selected
some of the principles to determine whether these two countries apply them in their national curriculum. Some of
these principles focus on some significant issues: teaching models, the use of Meta-discipline and Holistic
Techniques, authentic learning experiences, use of products, processing and progressing Evaluations, developing
explicit learning objectives, how to benefit from thinking and reflective practices, using collaborative and democratic
activities, preparing students to set personal objectives, giving themselves feedbacks, technology and flipped
classrooms, and beginning Year- Round Schooling. The results show that Iran needs more precise and detailed
learning objectives in its curriculum, use of democratic and collaborative activities with academics and students,
develop thinking and reflective practices which play vital roles in upgrading the educational system. Moreover, it is
suggested that the UK and Iran should consider embedded evaluations and flipped classrooms to meet the needs of
new generation of learners.