Classical and current criteria used in curriculum evaluation

The purpose of this study is to identify the criteria used in curriculum evaluation studies and the general characteristics of these criteria. There is no comprehensive literature on what criteria are used in curriculum evaluation studies and what their general characteristics are. The importance of this study is that it presents the classical and current criteria used in curriculum evaluation as a whole, explains the use and general characteristics of these criteria, identifies the factors that influence the selection of criteria, contributes to solving criteria-related problems in curriculum evaluation, and is a source of guidance for curriculum evaluation studies and related stakeholders in the field of curriculum development and evaluation, especially curriculum evaluators in education. This study was conducted in the general literature review model and the data collected through document review was analysed descriptively within the qualitative research approach. The data collected through document review was examined on the basis of "classical and current criteria used in curriculum evaluation", which is the subject of this research, and the results were obtained by interpreting and synthesising the information obtained. In this study, curriculum evaluation approaches and models, objectives and competences are considered as classical curriculum evaluation criteria. On the other hand, standards, accreditation, achievement, 21st century skills, literacy, national and international examinations, and development/evolution, which, according to the information in the literature, are considered appropriate to be used as criteria in curriculum evaluation studies, are explained as current criteria. As a result of this study, the classical and current criteria used in curriculum evaluation and the general characteristics of these criteria have been presented as a whole. It is hoped that the findings will provide guidance to curriculum evaluation studies and to stakeholders involved in curriculum evaluation. Therefore, rather than being classical or current, the criteria used in curriculum evaluation studies are chosen according to the purpose, type and nature of the evaluation study. Depending on the scope of the study and the initiative of the evaluator, a curriculum may be evaluated against one or more criteria, but the choice of appropriate criteria is essential for ensuring the validity and reliability of the curriculum evaluation study and for ensuring that the findings will be clear and coherent.