CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 15. PLANNING. CURRICULUM. EVALUATION. BY:.

This chapter explores the critical role of nursing faculty and administrators in evaluating the curriculum for quality improvement, emphasizing the importance of aligning evaluation with curriculum development. It covers essential concepts such as evaluation definitions, curriculum evaluation, and program evaluation..

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN THIS CHAPTER. 1.. What is evaluation generally, and what are curriculum evaluation and program evaluation more specifically?.

Definitions of Curriculum Evaluation and Program Evaluation.

Integrating evaluation planning into curriculum development is crucial because it ensures that educational programs are not only designed effectively but also continuously improved and aligned with specific goals. This approach helps in maintaining the quality, relevance, and responsiveness of the curriculum..

PURPOSES OF INTERNAL CURRICULUM EVALUATION. Firstly, will address the meaning of Internal curriculum evaluation. It acts as a crucial quality control process, much like a manufacturing plant regularly assessing the quality and effectiveness of its production processes to ensure consistent product standards..

PURPOSES OF EXTERNAL PROGRAM EVALUATION. External curriculum evaluation is typically conducted as a part of a broader summative program evaluation process for the purpose of obtaining approval or accreditation from external agencies. This evaluation involves self-study reports, onsite visits, and the assessment of predetermined criteria by external peers to determine whether an institution or program meets the required standards..

What processes are employed in curriculum evaluation?.

4. Selecting an Evaluation Model. The choice of an evaluation model is influenced by factors such as the curriculum's philosophical orientation, familiarity of faculty with different models, alignment with evaluation purposes, and the timeframe available for conducting the evaluation. In some cases, elements from multiple models might be necessary to address all the evaluation purposes effectively. For instance, a nursing school undergoing accreditation may have specific requirements for data presentation, which is determined externally, whereas internal evaluations may require a more flexible approach to align with the curriculum's specific needs..

7. Deciding on Use of Evaluation Data. The use of evaluation data for curriculum improvement is a primary goal, but it's important to consider other potential uses of the data before gathering it. For instance, data could serve as the basis for scholarly manuscripts, prompting discussions about data access and formats. Additionally, the potential use of teaching evaluations for faculty promotion and tenure purposes requires clarity on who will have access to these evaluations and how they will be assessed. These discussions should be conducted before initiating curriculum evaluation activities..

10. Reporting Evaluation Results and Recommendations The curriculum evaluation committee's role is to report its findings and recommendations to various stakeholders, with transparent communication of data and the rationale behind recommendations to encourage collaborative discussions and engage students in the process. For instance, schools can share results on student websites, demonstrating the impact of student input and integrating evaluation findings into external reports and resource requests to inform curriculum redevelopment decisions..

What are the benefits of reflecting on the curriculum evaluation process?.

What models might be used to guide curriculum evaluation?.

How can individual curriculum components and actual curriculum outcomes be evaluated?.

4. Curriculum Concepts. Curriculum evaluation of concepts involves assessing their appropriateness and their effectiveness in forming the foundation for courses and substantive content. For example, in a psychology program, if the curriculum concept of "behavioral theories" is found to be meaningful to both faculty and students and serves as a useful basis for course planning, it would be considered successful..

Planning Evaluation of Other Aspects of the Curriculum.

Why might fidelity of curriculum implementation be explicitly assessed?.

Benefits of Participation in Planning and Conducting Curriculum Evaluation.

What is the Relationship of Curriculum Evaluation to an Evidence-Informed, Context-Relevant, Unified Curriculum?.

How are the core processes of faculty development, ongoing appraisal and scholarship related to planning curriculum evaluation?.

Thank you all for your attention and engagement in today's exploration of planning curriculum evaluation. If there are any questions or thoughts you'd like to share, please feel free to do so. Your participation enriches our collective understanding, and I appreciate your active involvement in this discussion..