A study investigated the cognitive, academic, and personality characteristics of 75 adults with learning disabilities referred for services through the state/federal vocational rehabilitation system. Results found the subjects were homogenous relative to other groups of adults with learning disabilities, with low-average cognitive functioning and…

Describes the use of process-folios with students who are gifted in the visual arts, for assessing student needs, identifying advanced ability, developing specific programming, and evaluating programs. Discusses factors that should be considered to ensure accurate assessment when implementing process-folios and activities for creating the…

A study of three adults with profound mental retardation investigated the effects of using systematically assessed preferred stimuli versus staff opinion-based preferred stimuli on increasing happiness indices. Preferred stimuli based on preference assessments were more consistently accompanied by increased happiness indices than were preferred…

Reviews problems with the current movement to use national standards and performance assessment to reform education and the impact of the standards on students with disabilities. The characteristics of standards, as they are currently being employed, are discussed, along with issues related to measurement, reliability, and validity. (Author/CR)

An important component that models for peer review of faculty often exclude is course content. An approach incorporating course content evaluation by colleagues outside the institution, used at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, is described, and the structure and materials used are noted. The model, excerpted from the final…

Based on a pilot project at Exeter University (Devon, England) a software audit, comparing number of copies of software installed with number of license agreements, is described. Discussion includes auditing budgets, workstation questionnaires, the scanner program which detects the hardware configuration and staff training, analysis and…

Outlines a new method of reporting scores on the National Catholic Education Association's Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (ACRE). Participants will receive group-score reports that break down and detail the percent of their students classified as advanced, proficient or in need of improvement. Users who choose to receive individual…

Discussion of using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to read electronic text focuses on a study that evaluated the use of PDAs for reading course materials in an Open University (United Kingdom) master's course. Considers activity theory and how the PDA changed reading, including portability, screen display, navigation difficulties, and…

A study evaluated the relationship of teacher nomination instruments to later performance of 121 students from low-income backgrounds in a gifted program. Results indicate nominations based on thinking abilities, general gifted behaviors, and special learning skills were related to later performance on creativity, group skills, and language…

Discusses advancements in multimedia technology, and presents a design model for managing interactive multimedia courseware production that includes five phases: analysis, development, production, evaluation, and implementation. Five examples of interactive multimedia courseware are described. (Author/LRW)

Provides an overview of information policy issues which affect federal Web sites and introduces assessment techniques which federal site designers and administrators could use to evaluate the design and management of their Web-based information resources. Two tables depict selected Website assessment sources and criteria for evaluation.…

System-wide assessment in higher education can be influenced by political issues, which are in turn preoccupied with market forces and technological development. This generates a climate inimical to ethical quality and conflicts with academic work. If academic work is to make its best contribution to society, administration must move beyond…

A "policy communities" framework is proposed to explain why three evaluations of home care and services for the elderly in Quebec (Canada) either influenced, or failed to influence, policymaking in the area. It is suggested that program evaluation strategies should reflect the political context of the evaluation. (SLD)

Evaluated the Language Arts program in the primary division of a large urban school district (48 schools) using multiple sources of data, including interviews with 12 principals and 12 teacher librarians, observations in 56 classes, and surveys completed by 261 students, 194 parents, and 166 teachers. Evidence reveals limitations in the planning…

A study analyzed attribution statements of six community workers who provide risk management for men with mental retardation who sexually offend. Results highlight the effort participants made to obtain sufficient information. They focused on external factors for most effective risk management, but other staff undermined their confidence.…