ARPN Journal of Science and Technology::A General Model for Developing, Validating and Evaluating Nature of Science and Other 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 endeavour, 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 article further elaborates a general model of instructional materials development initially formulated by Carifio (1974, 1976 & 1977) which has recently been used by others to develop curricula and instructional materials in non-science areas, and applies the model to nature of science studies in particular and science curricula in general. The implications of this model are discussed.