The Stakes Model of Curriculum Evaluation was developed by educational researcher Daniel L. Stufflebeam in the late 1960s. This model focuses on a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the curriculum, taking into account various stakeholders’ perspectives and goals. It is designed to assess the effectiveness, quality, and impact of a curriculum in achieving its intended outcomes. The Stakes Model involves multiple levels of evaluation and emphasizes the importance of collecting relevant data from different sources. The model consists of four main stages:
1. Context Evaluation: In the first stage, the context evaluation aims to identify the various factors that influence the curriculum’s implementation and outcomes. This includes understanding the institutional context, the needs and characteristics of students, the available resources, and the overall educational environment. Gathering information about the context helps evaluators understand the challenges and opportunities that may affect the curriculum’s success.
2. Input Evaluation: The input evaluation stage focuses on examining the curriculum’s design and development process. It involves assessing the curriculum’s goals, objectives, content, instructional materials, and teaching strategies. Evaluators analyze whether the curriculum is aligned with the stated objectives and whether it meets the needs and expectations of the students and other stakeholders. This stage also looks at the qualifications and professional development of teachers involved in delivering the curriculum.
3. Process Evaluation: Process evaluation focuses on the implementation and delivery of the curriculum. Evaluators observe classroom activities, teaching methods, and student engagement to assess how well the curriculum is being implemented in practice. They also gather feedback from teachers and students to understand their experiences and perspectives. Process evaluation aims to identify any barriers or challenges in implementing the curriculum effectively.
4. Product Evaluation: The product evaluation stage assesses the outcomes and impacts of the curriculum. Evaluators collect data on student learning outcomes, achievements, and academic performance. They also analyze the curriculum’s overall effectiveness in achieving its intended goals and objectives. Product evaluation may involve standardized tests, performance assessments, surveys, and other methods to measure the curriculum’s impact on students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Advantages of Stakes Model:
- Holistic Evaluation: The Stakes Model takes a comprehensive approach, considering various dimensions of the curriculum, including its context, design, implementation, and outcomes.
- Stakeholder Involvement: The model emphasizes the importance of involving multiple stakeholders, such as students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members, in the evaluation process.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: The Stakes Model relies on data collection and analysis to make informed decisions about curriculum improvement and effectiveness.
- Adaptability: The model can be adapted to different educational settings and contexts, making it suitable for a wide range of curriculum evaluations.
Limitations of Stakes Model:
- Time and Resource-Intensive: Conducting a comprehensive evaluation using the Stakes Model can be time-consuming and requires significant resources.
- Data Collection Challenges: Gathering data from multiple sources and stakeholders can be challenging, and ensuring the quality and reliability of the data may be complex.
- Complexity: The Stakes Model’s multi-level evaluation process may be intricate for some educators and evaluators to implement.
Conclusion:
The Stakes Model of Curriculum Evaluation is a valuable approach to assess the effectiveness and impact of educational curricula. By considering context, input, process, and product, the model provides a thorough examination of the curriculum’s strengths and weaknesses. It encourages collaboration among stakeholders and data-driven decision-making for continuous curriculum improvement. However, it also requires careful planning, resource allocation, and skilled evaluation teams to implement effectively.