Examine a CIPP framework for curriculum assessment. 

Consider a practical curriculum assessment plan.

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of curriculum assessment in public schools.

The final step in curriculum development is to determine if the curriculum
has worth or merit. This process is quite complex and time-consuming and involves the collection of information. Effective assessments should include both qualitative and quantitative techniques and should focus on the concerns of the stakeholders.

All too often, complete curriculum assessment is not completely conducted. Lack of money, expertise, and time are several of the reasons curriculum assessment may not occur. Many times only a few types of convenient information are collected such as test scores and employment data. As you study this week's lesson, consider how public schools could do a better job of assessing curriculum. What are the barriers to collecting all the available qualitative and quantitative information?

As professional curriculum developers, we should promote complete assessment and understand that it is an important part of the systems approach to curriculum development. We should make every effort to develop a plan for assessment and make sure the plan is implemented.

This week's reading is on Vista WebCt.

View the PowerPoint on Assessing the Curriculum or download it here.

Final Project:
70 points

There is no homework this week. However you will be responsible for the information on the final exam that will be e-mailed this Friday.

The final project for this class is due by Dec.4. The final product consists of a PowerPoint and presentation that includes the four phases of your project completed in earlier classes. The rubric for the content requirements and the rubric for the presentation of the final project should be used as your development guide for this presentation. When developing this presentation keep in mind that your targeted audience is a county school board or county extension advisory board that is voting on whether or not to allow you to offer the course. (See the rubric for more detail.)

You will be required to turn in the powerpoint and either a DVD/VCR recording of your presentation postmarked by Dec.4 or participate in an Eluminate session on Nov. 28 ( practice) and Dec.4 (presentation). Please e-mail me and let me know this week which one you prefer to do. There is no minimum time for the presentation but the it should not exceed 30 minutes.

The final exam will be open book/ short answer/ vista webct mutiple choice and will be e-mailed on Nov.30. It will be due Dec. 11 and will cover the second half of the course.