At a time when scientific and technological competence is vital to the nation's future, the weak performance of U.S. students in science reflects the uneven quality of current science education. Although young children come to school with innate curiosity and intuitive ideas about the world around them, science classes rarely tap this potential.…

Differential item functioning (DIF) occurs when items on a test or questionnaire have different measurement properties for one group of people versus another, irrespective of group-mean differences on the construct. Methods for testing DIF require matching members of different groups on an estimate of the construct. Preferably, the estimate is…

Presents a step-by-step approach to selecting skilled technicians who are also good classroom instructors. Discusses getting started, designing the selection process, choosing instructors, and following up. Figures are included illustrating selection skills and procedures, instructional simulation rating criteria, interview questions, and…

The report describes activities and results of the second year of the Special Education Planning Model (SEPM), designed to help planners and policymakers estimate special education program needs and costs. SEPM uses a computer simulation based on users' assumptions and priorities in such areas as incidence rates, handicapping conditions to be…

General guidelines are developed to assist practitioners in devising operational computerized adaptive testing systems based on the graded response model. The effects of the following major variables were examined: item pool size; stepsize used along the trait continuum until maximum likelihood estimation could be calculated; and stopping rule…

Case means and case failures in performance-based medical student evaluations were examined to evaluate the consistency of ratings made by two or more standardized patients (SPs) simulating the same case. Results demonstrate a need for caution in interpreting scores obtained from a case checklist completed by multiple SPs. (Author/MSE)

An overview of participative exercises of the game/simulation/case study type is provided, and seven distinct types of exercises are identified and briefly described; i.e., "pure" games; "pure" simulations; "pure" case studies; simulation games; games used as case studies; simulated case studies; and simulation games used as case studies. The…

A study assessed the effectiveness of a business administration simulation exercise designed to train students in problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal skills. Results of the simulation in a Slovenian institution with graduate students in international business are discussed, along with implications for incorporating the exercise…

The acceptability of two different training methods (simulation training using a doll and simulation training on self) for teaching menstrual hygiene skills to young women with developmental disabilities was evaluated in two experiments. Results suggested that opinions about treatment acceptability should be obtained from both professional and…

One college teacher's use of mock trials in sociology instruction is described. Students are assigned roles as petitioner, respondent, attorneys, judge, courtroom staff, witnesses, reporters, and jurors. Pretrial investigations provide experience in information-gathering and critical thinking. Posttrial debriefing reveals others' thinking…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT (Except for the Evaluation Summary Table): VERSION: Conduit Demonstration Package. PRODUCER: Conduit, P. O. Box 388, Iowa City, IA 52244. EVALUATION COMPLETED: June, 1982, by staff and constituents of the Portland Public Schools, Multnomah ESD, Oregon. COST: $30.00. ABILITY LEVEL: Post-secondary,…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT (Except for the Evaluation Summary Table): VERSION: Member's Apple Demonstration Kit. PRODUCER: Conduit, P.O. Box 388, Iowa City, Iowa 52244. EVALUATION COMPLETED: June 1982 by the staff and constituents of the Portland Public Schools, Multnomah ESD, Portland, Oregon. COST: $35.00. ABILITY LEVEL:…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT (Except for the Evaluation Summary Table): VERSION: 1980. PRODUCER: Mentor Software, Inc., Box 8082, St. Paul, Minn. 55113. EVALUATION COMPLETED: April 1982, by staff and constituents of the Texas Region X Educational Service Center. COST: $19.95. ABILITY LEVEL: Grades 10-14. SUBJECT: Chemistry:…

This critical review of 13 political science software simulations and tutorials rates the programs both by quality of presentation and by educational content. Courseware does have a truly interactive nature yet allows the student to be in an active mode of control. The software programs reviewed feature a variety of graphic, textual, and…

This courseware evaluation rates "The Place Setting Simulator" program developed by Orange Juice Software Systems. The courseware was rated by a team of home economists participating in a network designed to identify and evaluate courseware and disseminate reviews for vocational and technical teachers, media staff, and administrators.…