A Macro Model for Developing, Validating and Evaluating Nature of Science Curricula and Instructional Materials

Nature of science research continues to generate a high level of interest among educators and scholars. Despite the fact that the nature of science is a continually evolving and highly complex instructional endeavor, there are no comprehensive instructional models available for researchers that can systematically capture and organize this theoretical ‘universe’ of content and then translate this content into educationally sound and validated classroom materials, activities and representations. In addressing these issues, this paper further elaborates a macro model of instructional materials development initially formulated by Carifio (1974, 1976 & 1977), and applies the model to nature of science studies. The prototype of this model was originally developed and piloted for the United States Navy to use as a standard model in developing scientific-technical instructional materials and was found to be effective in a variety of different instructional contexts. The revised model discussed in this paper involves different macro and micro frameworks related to the nature of science. ___________________ * Author for correspondence. Rocco J. Perla, 35 Academy Road, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453 USA. Phone: 978.466.2064. E-mail: [email protected]