This paper describes a planning cost model for estimating the comparable replication cost of an educational program for use in evaluating alternative programs and planning future programs. The conceptual and methodological bases of cost analysis are explored and the shortcomings of present methods for comparison and evaluation of educational…

This paper shows that Garfinkel and Gramlich's conclusion about the average performance of the contractors is not supported by the data. The discussion focuses on three issues: (1) The study was conducted in such a way that performance contracting schools and the comparison schools were generally not comparable in terms of initial achievement,…

Problems which should be considered in relation to performance contracting include: legal problems, time for planning, teachers' objections, and measuremet problems. Advantages include: the learning experience of planning, Hawthorne effect excitement, and the low cost of this experimentation. (MS)

Evaluation of prior learning for the External Degree Program at Florida International University is described. Efforts in the following areas are presented: (1) implementation and evaluation of the competency-based assessment tool, (2) integration of the assessment process with other processes of the External Degree Program and the entire…

Four experiential learning programs that are in the early stages of development are described. The report from the Consortium of the California State University and Colleges details the efforts of a traditional, decentralized system to introduce flexibility into the use of examinations for crediting prior learning. A description of a large,…

This document is intended as a template for individuals initiating and developing adult education distance learning programs. The introduction discusses the following issues: benefits of distance learning; flexibility; confidentiality; retention; and the best students to target. The template and supplementary materials are organized in five…