This article concerns the contribution that feedback makes to valid classroom assessment of the writing of young learners (YLs), defined here as approximately 9-13 years old. It shows that a scale of descriptors adapted from the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" (CEFR; Council of Europe, 2001) can play a central role…

Described are the formative evaluation procedures used to assess materials to teach educable mentally retarded children concepts and skills in the areas of money, measurement, and time. It is explained that "formative" evaluation refers to assessment of an instructional product during its development, in order to identify ways in which the…

Based on the "Courseware Evaluation Project," supported by the Israeli Ministry of Education and Culture, this article addresses basic issues regarding formative evaluation practices in the context of computerized instruction. Topics discussed included the rationale for evaluation, elements to evaluate, dimensions for assessing quality, and…

Learner verification, a process by which publishers monitor the effectiveness of their products and strive to improve their services to schools, is a practice that most companies take seriously. The quality of educational materials may be ensured in many ways: by analysis of sales, through firsthand investigation, and by employing a system of…

Formative evaluation of instructional materials may not be time efficient or cost effective. Scriven's definition of formative evaluation, used in this paper, applies to the assessment and refinement of instructional materials still under development. Implementation of formative evaluation techniques does not seem to yield significant improvement…

Presented are materials for evaluating vocational-occupational-technical higher education programs for handicapped students who are mainstreamed alongside non-handicapped students. Included are sample materials designed to implement the theory and principles discussed in a previous work on evaluating occupational programs for the handicapped. The…

The criteria used by various groups in determining the destiny of an educational product are systematically explored. Educational products are defined as educational materials which are in a transportable, tangible, and packaged form; emphasis is placed on instructional, rather than informational materials. Three major types of decisions regarding…

Formative evaluation consists of assessing educational programs or other kinds of educational products while they are being developed to help shape them into their final forms. This publication is intended for those whose job it is to develop new programs and products or to evaluate them during development. Topics discussed include: (1) the nature…

A framework is suggested for presenting a student portfolio in a coherent fashion. The Cognitive Model for Assessing Portfolios (CMAP) is an organizer that arranges the processes associated with portfolios into the following three dimensions: (1) the stakeholder dimension, which identifies the viewpoints of individuals or groups with an interest…

The evaluation of World Wide Web resources has become a critical information skill for students. Because of the uniqueness of these resources, new tools are required that assess not only the content validity and mechanical functionality of a Web site, but also its motivational quality. This paper describes the development and validation of a set…

Focuses on learner verification and revision (LVR), a systems approach to the evaluation of instructional materials in which materials are tested with students. Using this method to adapt internationally available materials to local needs is discussed. A flow chart of the LVR adaptation process and 31 references are included. (JJD)

A detailed perspective on the current status of interactive videodiscs is provided, along with brief examples of their present uses in education. Considerations in program development and evaluation are also discussed. A substantial list of references accompanies the article. (Author/PP)

Microcomputer software can provide excellent drill and practice, simulations, and problem-solving. Yet, software developers often have designed elaborate graphics and unique characters in lieu of sound instructional programming. Many instructional programs for learning-disabled students do not provide appropriate reading levels, the opportunity to…

Presents a preliminary evaluation of two types of electronic books, reference type and textbook type, and discusses the likelihood of their implementation in elementary and secondary schools and in university settings. A theoretical framework for evaluation is described, and recommendations for improving the likelihood of successful implementation…

This handbook is intended for those persons who have the responsibility for selecting learning materials for student use. The primary emphasis is on learning materials intended for wide distribution, such as those produced by commercial publishers. An annotated listing is provided of approximately 40 resource publications dealing with the…