The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) documents dimensions of quality in undergraduate education and provides information and assistance to colleges, universities, and other organizations to improve student learning. Its primary activity is annually surveying college students to assess the extent to which they engage in educational…

This report is an overview of events that have taken place over the last 4 years to further efforts to make the arts part of what every schoolchild learns in every grade. The report recounts how the Arts in Schools Basic Education Grants (AISBEG), a targeted federal pilot project of the National Endowment for the Arts, has stimulated change at the…

This paper addresses some of the concerns inherent in evaluating feminists' projects and focuses on three topics: (1) a discussion of some objections raised by feminists about traditional forms of assessment; (2) a description of the strengths and weaknesses of illuminative evaluation as an alternative approach to evaluate feminist programs; and…

The project staff for "Teaching Parents to Be the Primary Sexuality Educators of Their Children" designed and implemented a curriculum for use with diverse parent groups and evaluated the impact of the course. This report on the results of the evaluation includes: (1) a review of studies of the content and impact of parent-child communication…

Aimed at classroom teachers, researchers, staff developers, and policymakers, this bibliography of approximately 375 items is intended as a resource for the development of curricula that explicitly employ oral and written language to support learning across the curriculum. The journal articles, theses, and books in the annotated bibliography were…

Describes a multimethod assessment of psychology student outcomes at the University of Northern Colorado. Nineteen goals and objectives for psychology majors were identified. Describes changes in the psychology program prompted by the assessment results. (CFR)

This book is about an approach to curriculum development and evaluation in which teachers and students worked with parents, local communities, politicians, and a major international organization, to carry out research and bring about improvements. The participants were part of the Environment and Schools Initiative (ENSI), a major international…

This report examines whether a high school curriculum organized around the five "new basics" suggested by the National Commission on Excellence in Education is likely to enhance student achievement. Data from the ETS Growth Study reveals that completion of the core curriculum has sizable effects on senior-year test performance, even when…

Recounts a university's attempt to create a more rigorous and rewarding sociology program. Utilizing recommendations from the American Sociological Association the university introduced four levels of sequencing consisting of introductory courses, skills courses, advanced substantive courses, and capstone courses. Concludes that this was a…

Discusses the commonality of administrative issues facing undergraduate psychology departments and how consultants respond to these issues. Analyzes 20 department evaluations done by consultants. Most issues and recommendations fall into three categories: requirements for the major, physical and financial resources, and curriculum objectives. (MJP)

This report addresses the results of an evaluation made of the first year of the implementation of a global studies theme at the Northeast Global Studies Middle Magnet School (Kansas City, Missouri). It is reported that ample evidence of the theme was seen throughout most of the school facilities, and observed in all of the social studies classes.…

This report describes the methodology used in an evaluation study to measure the effectiveness of the West End Special Education Local Plan Area's program for improving the transition of special needs students from secondary school into adult life. Goals of the San Bernardino, California, study included measuring students' quality of life upon…

Practicing school principals were surveyed to determine their opinions regarding the most effective preparation curriculum for principals. A total of 100 Louisiana principals, drawn equally from elementary, middle or junior high, and high school, were given a survey instrument containing 52 course titles and asked to rank order the 12 courses they…

Addressed to politicians and policy makers who allocate resources among competing programs of education and extension, practitioners who make day-to-day program decisions, and the scholarly community, this document on trends and issues in adult education around the globe consists of 14 chapters, each with notes and references. The purpose,…

Describes a study of the content of 180 stringed-instrument preservice teacher education programs. Reports statistically significant findings for different regions of the country, with North Central division institutions requiring the greatest number of separate string technique and methods courses. (CFR)