Motivational design, a major component of the ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) model that describes how to understand the motivation to learn, is described in this second article of a two-part series. Topics addressed include audience analysis; motivational objectives, measures, and motivational strategy design; and…

Pressures from both outside and inside the institution are making it imperative that community colleges improve their ability to document and articulate the outputs and impacts of their programs. This document addresses itself to this issue and to the problems associated with measurement of outcomes in postsecondary education. An approach taken by…

To clearly delineate the objectives of this ESEA Title III project, the objectives for the total systems analysis development project being undertaken by the Racine School District are described briefly. Specifically, this report concerns itself with two of the nine objectives of the project. The first is the development of learning outcomes…

This report is intended primarily for educators who have the responsibility for conducting or managing a needs assessment at the school or district level. Although most of the material relates to local assessments in the elementary and secondary schools, some information has been included on statewide assessments and on emerging efforts in…

Educational accountability is treated as a philosophy and as a means of introducing system into an educational enterprise. The philosophy of accountability is discussed as to the demand for accountability, the possibility of using accountability as a political tool, the promise made by accountability and whether the promise can be kept, difficult…

Component aspects of Program for Learning in Accordance with Needs (PLAN), a systems approach to individualized education on the elementary and secondary school levels, are discussed. PLAN, which has been in operation in twelve selected school districts in California and in the northeastern U.S. since 1966, focuses on assisting the individual to…

This document, which draws heavily on lessons learned during 11 years of the Southern Regional Education Board's High Schools That Work initiative, is intended to help state leaders review their existing system for assessing accountability in vocational education or plan such a system. The document begins with a discussion of the purpose of…

This document presents the National Health Care Skill Standards, which were developed by the National Consortium on Health Science and Technology and West Ed Regional Research Laboratory, in partnership with educators and health care employers. The document begins with an overview of the purpose and benefits of skill standards. Presented next are…