Perceptions and expectations of school administrators who participated in a cooperative curriculum assessment

• Main Author: Phipps, Ray Sherman
• Other Authors: Lyon, Don O.
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Curriculum planning.; Education > Curricula.; School administrators.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/179614; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/415403

The Major Problem of the StudyThe major problem of the study was to determine the effects of the cooperative curriculum assessment project of the Northwest Indiana Public School Study Council as perceived by school administrators who actively participated in this project.Methods and Procedures of the StudyMethods and procedures used to determine the effects of the cooperative curriculum assessment project included the selection of school corporations and the population to be sampled, the preparation and refinement of the survey instrument as a data-collecting device, and the preparation and refinement of the structured interview guide as a data collecting device.ConclusionsConclusions were based on the findings of the study, on the literature and research reviewed as part of the study, and on the writer's experiences in conducting the study.1. A cooperative curriculum assessment has potential for the improvement of communications among the staff members, faculty members, administrative personnel, and students.2. Curriculum evaluation has potential value as a means of in-service training of school personnel for curriculum change and improvement.3. The process of curriculum assessment has potential for involvement of students and parents in curriculum development and change.4. The use of school personnel as participants in curriculum evaluation provides potential value as a means to create positive attitudes toward self-evaluation.5. The positive attitudes of participants in curriculum evaluation indicate the sincere interest of professional educators for the improvement of education for young people.6. Group training of school personnel to act as data collectors has potential as an effective method to initiate a curriculum evaluation project.7. With a limited amount of preparation, public school personnel can become effective in assessing curriculum. More thorough preparation may increase their efficiency in curriculum evaluation.8. University personnel working in cooperation with public school personnel have potential as an effective team in cooperative curriculum assessment.9. The use of teachers as data collectors allows them to acquire new ideas for their own use and also provides them with the opportunity to view objectively the problems in other educational situations.Recommendations for Further StudyRecommendations for further study were based on the findings of the study, on the literature and research reviewed as part of the study, and on the writer's experiences in conducting the study.1. All participants, rather than just the administrators, should be surveyed in regard to the impact of the project in order to obtain the perceptions of all personnel involved in the project.2. Follow-up studies should be conducted involving teachers, students, administrators, and the public concerning the results reported in the final report.3. Studies should be initiated to explore possible means of involving teachers, supervisors, and administrators with university faculty members and other resource persons for planning future curriculum assessments.4. In future curriculum assessments, efforts should be made to encourage all superintendents to include principals, supervisors, and other administrators in the project from the beginning. 5. In future curriculum assessments, efforts should be made to provide a continuous feedback system so that the project staff can study the communications of the liaison persons.