The rise of the research center has changed the landscape of U.S. research enter-prise. It has also created a number of evaluation challenges, particularly when considering strategically focused, multifaceted cooperative research centers (CRCs). The author argues that although recent CRC evaluation efforts have gone a long way toward meeting the…

The September 2006 report "A Test of Leadership: Charting the Future of U.S. Higher Education," by the commission appointed by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, identifies many areas of improvement for U.S. higher education and specifies numerous recommendations (totaling more than 50, according to some counts) for consideration by…

This article presents the authors' response to the commentaries on their article. They focus on two important issues raised by most of the reviewers: (a) the curricular dependence of the proposed learning progression and the daunting (twin) challenges of bringing about changes in curriculum and assessment and consolidating and validating the…

This position paper has been produced in order to inform some of the current debates on National Curriculum Assessment in England. The Education and Skills Committee of the House of Commons has announced an inquiry into Testing and Assessment. In part this will examine testing and assessment in primary and secondary education as a key issue.…

Describes the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) approach toward research and development and provides an overview of this issue that highlights CTW. The CTW model of research and development is explained; formative and summative evaluation are discussed; and changing learning environments at home, at school, and in the community are considered.…

Discusses changes needed in the field of educational technology and recommends future directions. Topics discussed include instructional theories; descriptive versus prescriptive theories; analysis versus synthesis; a formative evaluation approach to research; the relationship of research and development; organizational methods for instruction;…

Research and theory on teaching the writing process is not being widely implemented in public school classrooms. Changes such as a greater emphasis on process in college composition classes and language arts methodology courses as well as careful selection of supervising teachers, inservice programs, and revamping of writing evaluation are needed.…

This paper proposes system supports to improve the post-school status of mildly disabled special education students and recommends that such supports be a focus of research supported by the federal Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. Each service is discussed in terms of its rationale, possible content, process measures,…