Describes four stages of the assessment of instructional materials: (1) research and development; (2) assessment of prototype materials; (3) formative evaluation; and (4) summative evaluation as used in the Vocabulary Development Project. (DEP)

Transactional evaluation is discussed in the perspective of "The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation" by Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca. It is described as a procedure for facilitating change by encouraging all persons who might be affected by a new program to participate in its evaluation. (CTM)

Results of an evaluation of four school-based acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) education programs are presented. The importance of evaluation in such programs is explored, and the need to consider current developments in the AIDS field in the design and evaluation of such programs is highlighted. (SLD)

The praxis orientation is proposed as an approach to school-based evaluation that enables professionals to understand power relationships and act toward empowerment of the local school community. The orientation is offered as an alternative to the positivist power-control approach, which is critiqued. (TJH)