The characteristics of written comments on assignments as well as the process of writing them were studied. Interviews to three case-study middle school students, observation of lessons and content analysis of their assignments show that features that promote learning are: comments located next to what needs revision must be reviewed; use of…

A framework is proposed for evaluating the learning ecology and processes created by information technology in schools and developing an ecological model for research. The evaluation of Project Comptown, an intervention with extensive use of computers in two Israeli communities (with over 6,000 students), illustrates the framework. (SLD)

Four stages of formative evaluation and questions concerning the process of the Individualized Science program are discussed. (DEP)

Advocate the use of repeated applications of inventories of approaches to learning as an appropriate technique for the evaluation of educational innovations. Presents three case studies that use the Study Process Questionnaire (J. Biggs, 1987) to show how the measure can be used for innovations in naturalistic settings. (SLD)

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)

Ten evaluation models are examined in terms of their applicability to investigative, emergent design programs: Stake's portrayal, Wolf's adversary, Patton's utilization, Guba's investigative journalism, Scriven's goal-free, Scriven's modus operandi, Eisner's connoisseurial, Stufflebeam's CIPP, Tyler's objective based, and Levin's cost…

A study involving 11 teachers and 375 students was conducted to examine teacher behavior in biology classes/laboratories in Nigeria. Objective and detailed quantitative description of teacher behavior was made possible by systematic observation using the category system presented. The predominant feature in the classroom was talk by the teacher.…

The evaluation of a science education project for teachers in Durban (South Africa) illustrates some problems inherent in the application of the fourth-generation evaluation approach of Guba and Lincoln. One of the strongest concerns is that full participation by stakeholders may be an unrealistic assumption. (SLD)

Participant observations and key informant interviews were used in three case studies, each case corresponding to a different degree of researcher involvement in a Canadian school district's participatory evaluation. The contextual differences observed are discussed, and the usefulness of the approach to studying evaluation methods is described.…

Evaluation of an elementary level science curriculum unit (MATAL) illustrates intensive evaluation. This method involves classroom observation by trained observers, formulation of course objectives, student interviews (ability tests), and lesson planning. It stresses the identification of learning difficulties which hinder attainment of course…

Selected data from a junior high school science assessment study are presented to demonstrate the potential of pattern analysis for teacher evaluation, and to illustrate its superiority over other classroom observation techniques. (CP)

This evaluation identified outcomes of participation in Minnesota's Early Childhood and Family Education program. A case study approach was used to assess the impact of program participation. A positive reaction to the program was noted, and certain changes in family functioning were attributable to participation. (DWH)

A one-year project was conducted by the Training, Enterprise, and Education Directorate to evaluate the effectiveness of a learning program at a northwest England Skillcenter for developing nonmanual skills in unemployed adults. Interviews with 30 trainees and training workplace observations identify strengths and weaknesses of this continually…

Facet design and smallest space analysis were used to study teaching behaviors. From a questionnaire administered to 2,000 high school students, a set of 25 structuples were selected which repeatedly described teachers' instructional behavior. Results supported the usefulness of this approach. (GDC)