Welcome to the Physical Education
Curriculum Evaluation Project!
The purpose of this project is to assist school districts in providing a
high quality physical education program by helping them to assess the status
of the existing curriculum and construct a systematic plan of program
improvement.
What constitutes a high quality program?
An effective program is not synonymous with effective instruction. Our
experiences with schools suggest that while there are a tremendous number of
effective teachers of physical education, there are few truly effective
programs. Instruction is deemed effective if it results in a significant
change in student knowledge, skills, or behaviors. In an effective program,
all teachers influence students' knowledge, skills, and abilities in a
systematic, progressive, calculated manner, so that all students attain
expected outcomes at expected times.
High quality physical education programs:
- Focus on student achievement of important outcomes
- Help students to make calculated, systematic progress that
culminates in attaining the desired outcomes
- Accommodate the entire student body, including both genders,
different ethnic and cultural groups, special education students,
and students of various abilities and fitness levels
- Apply concepts and strategies that are consistent with
professional bodies of knowledge
- Include methods of assessing program effectiveness and making
appropriate curricular modifications when needed
- Are adaptable to the
unique needs and characteristics of changes in contexts
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How does this project facilitate
quality physical education programs?
Regular evaluation of program content and effectiveness is important
because ... However,
curriculum evaluation is only useful when the process focuses on indicators
of program quality and when the process is conducted with integrity and
expertise. The purpose of this project is to assist school districts with
the curriculum evaluation process.
Our plan focuses on the quality of the physical education program,
specifically the extent to which the program is designed to promote student
attainment of the objectives that comprise the curriculum. Leads to a
long-term plan for systematic program improvement.
Our process is comprehensive. We consider: (a) context - the
extent to which the program addresses the values, needs, and interests of
the community and its subpopulations; (b) inputs - whether the resources
allocated for the program are appropriate and sufficient to facilitate
attainment of intended outcomes at each grade level; (c) process - the
extent to which instructional plans are valid and appropriate; and (d)
product - student attainment of curriculum objectives and application of the
knowledge, skills, and behaviors in "real life" situations.
We provide the needed expertise in curriculum evaluation. The
focus of this web site is a comprehensive step-by-step process for
curriculum review that can be implemented by school district personnel with
the help of an external consultant. The process is practical, efficient, and
proven (see research and development).
Our materials are educational. By responding to survey
questions, physical education teachers and others will learn about the
characteristics of high quality physical education programs, fundamentals of
curriculum structure/design, and their role in the curriculum development
process. The glossary, sample curricular materials, and sample evaluation
reports also help to educate.
Our process helps to build community support for the physical
education program. (Expand on this thought.)
Getting started
Read the files under "evaluation process" and browse through the
evaluation instruments. Generate enthusiasm and support for the evaluation
process, as well as the subsequent program improvement efforts. Identify a
consultant. Then dig in. |
