Curriculum Development

Curriculum Development

Pilot-Testing (Piloting a curriculum)

In the implementation of the curriculum, there are processes needed after it has been written and before it is accepted for final implementation. Whenever a curriculum is written as in books, modules, etc. or the whole curricular program; there is a need to have a PILOT TESTING.

Processes of Curriculum Implementation

* Feasibility studies. Planning phase. An examination of a situation to decide whether a suggested method or plan is possible or reasonable.

* Pilot Testing. Describes a plan, product or system that is used to test how good something is, before introducing it. Try-out or field testing.

* Piloting and evaluation

* Piloting and innovation.

Pilot testing or field try out is one of the common practices of curriculum makers to determine the strength and the weaknesses of a written or planned curriculum. Likewise monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum are also important in the implementation.

Why Pilot?

The purpose of piloting a curriculum is to make sure the curriculum is effective, and to make changes, before it is distributed or offered widely. This process will gather empirical data to support whether the material or the curriculum is useful, relevant, reliable and valid. Piloting a curriculum helps to identify which sections of the curriculum worked and which sections need strengthening.

Lewey has identified three phases of curriculum “tryout”. Each phase will adopt successively more formal evaluation methods in order to provide more reliable findings:

1. Laboratory tryout: The first phase may begin as formative evaluation very early in the curriculum development process in what is sometimes described as “laboratory tryouts”. Here elements of the curriculum may be tested with individuals or small groups. Responses of learners are observed and modifications to the curriculum materials may be suggested.

2. Pilot tryout: A “pilot tryout” may begin...