Evaluating Curriculum Materials
The National Academies.
(1999)
Selecting instructional
materials: A
guide for K-12
science.
Washington,
DC: National Academy Press.
This book
provides a field-tested procedure to help education decision-makers evaluate and choose
materials for the science classroom using local, state and/or national standards. This guide is addressed to school districts,
school and district administrators, individual schools, teachers, scientists, school
boards, parents and community at large. The
recommended procedure is unique, adaptable to local needs and realistic given the time and
money limitations typical to school districts. The
instructional materials used in the K-12 science classes provide the basis for what
students can learn and what teachers should teach. The
process used to select those materials is critical to providing students and teachers with
a solid foundation for achievement and successful teaching.
The following materials contain guidelines and criteria for evaluating and
selecting instructional materials and technology resources for use in mathematics and/or
science classes. The first set of guidelines
was produced by the Expert Panel on Mathematics and Science Education, U.S. Department of
Education, and includes criteria for evaluation of programs. The second set of guidelines was produced by the
National Science Resources Center for the review of science instructional materials. The third was produced by the National Science
Foundation (NSF) for the review of middle school science instructional materials. The fourth contains guidelines produced by the
International Society for Technology Education for evaluating and selecting technology
resources.