Validation of Curriculum in Vocational-Technical Education.

Validation in curriculum development is the "check-and-balance" dimension of any instructional system, in the broadest sense almost synonymous with evaluation and accountability. This paper relates validation to individual, formative, and summative evaluation. Validation measures to be applied to instructional systems are outlined according to a 12-point model reported by F. Coit Butler. Curriculum development is concerned with criterion-referenced tests (CRT) and the CRT is central to all validation efforts. The paper discusses validity of the curriculum generally and of the CRT specifically with reference to reliability and other factors. The appendix consists of instructional systems development charts from various sources. (MF)