Educational Program and Curriculum Evaluation Models: A Mini Systematic Review of the Recent Trends

The present study aimed at reviewing some of the most reputable models of curriculum and program evaluation. In so doing, 63 related research papers were selected based on the pre-defined criteria. These included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, book reviews, and experiments. A curriculum is an important element which can affect the effectiveness of an educational or a pedagogical program. The main merit of a curriculum is providing the stakeholders with a transparent idea as to what must be achieved during the program conduction and whether the objectives of the program have been met. The term program evaluation was first used in the United States during the 1960s. Since then, various program and curriculum evaluation models and frameworks have been conceptualized around the world. Nearly all these models eventually have the same focus, i.e., to see whether a program meets its defined objectives or not. Some of these models have already been subject to evaluation within various educational contexts, while some have been less investigated. In the present systematic review, some reputable models of program and curriculum evaluation were discussed, while some other models were touched upon. The review was mainly divided into theoretical considerations and empirical background. The pros and cons of each model were briefly discussed. In addition, it was shown how some models have evolved or been challenged by others. It was concluded that choosing an appropriate model of evaluation would depend on several criteria such as the context, the purpose, and the expected outcome of the evaluation.