CURRICULUM EVALUATION

Curriculum Evaluation



Comprehension of the nature and purpose of curriculum evaluation

Introduction

Curriculum evaluation

Curriculum evaluation is one of the most important part and an essential phase of curriculum development. Through this process the faculty is able to ascertain that if the curriculum is able to fulfill its main and primary purpose and whether the students are being able to learn something out of it. Curriculum is known as the sum of all those experiences which are to be provided by an educational institution to its students. Curriculum according to wheeler (1976) is defined as the planned experiences which are offered to the learners and the students under the guidance of the institution.

The term curriculum evaluation evolved during the past half century from its forerunner known as curriculum development, a term that emerged in the 1930s to designate a field that evolved at the beginning of the 20th century to facilitate curriculum for schools in the expanding project of universal schooling. Curriculum evaluation is a term that designates a shift of theory and practice as scholars sought understanding of curricula as phenomena of interest and societal import in contrast with sole concentration on service to leaders of practice in schools.

Curriculum evaluation reports and monitors on the education quality. According to Cronbach (1963), there are basically three types of decisions and purposes for which the evaluation of the curriculum is used.

Course Improvement: Deciding what methods and the materials for instructions are satisfactory and where the needed changes are required.

Decisions about individuals: Identifying the needs which are required for the sale of planning of the grouping and instruction of the pupil, and also acquainting the pupil with his own deficiency.

Administrative Regulation: Judging how good the teachers are individually, and just how good the system of the school is.

The curriculum evaluation goal is to answer the questions related to the worth of educational activities and materials, adoption and selection, and their support and worth. It also helps in the identification of the necessary improvements that are needed to be made in the development of the educational objectives, staff selection, educational facilities, learning experiences, and the teaching methods.

Need for an evaluation process

Curriculum evaluation serves the needs of the administrators and the policy makers, and also other members of the school and the society for the information about the educational system. One of the key elements of education is related to decisions made ...