A total of 47 papers are presented from the George Mason University (Virginia) second annual conference on nontraditional, interdisciplinary, and external degree programs. Among the papers are authors are: "A Learning Theory Account of Walden University's Doctoral Instructional Program" (B. M. Austin); "Hospital Based Interdisciplinary Education…

This handbook is designed to aid teacher advisors in organizing and operating a chapter of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) in Kentucky high schools. The handbook consists of 15 chapters covering the following topics: background and purpose of HOSA; organizational structure; organizing a chapter; membership and leadership;…

Based on the realization that the arts humanize the teaching process, motivate learning in all areas of the curriculum, and answer the need for creative expression, the Oklahoma plan was instituted in 1976 to provide a comprehensive arts program for the public schools. Its approaches include in-depth instruction by arts specialists, integration of…

English as a second language (ESL) programs in community colleges are as diverse in the models they follow as the students they serve. This volume provides a detailed look at how faculty and administrators are tailoring their ESL programs to best serve the needs of their students and the missions of their institutions. The authors of the thirteen…

These four papers are from a symposium on evaluation in human resource development (HRD). "Assessing Organizational Readiness for Learning through Evaluative Inquiry" (Hallie Preskill, Rosalie T. Torres) reviews how evaluative inquiry can facilitate organizational learning; argues HRD evaluation should be reconceptualized as a process…

This year, Congress is scheduled to review the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In 2002, this law signaled an important change in federal education policy by focusing on accountability for results rather than simple compliance and by seeking to set the performance bar high for all children, regardless of where they live. The time is now to learn…

In December 2006 the Government announced that a new framework for assessing and funding university research would be introduced following the completion of the next research assessment exercise in 2008. The sector has welcomed the key features of the announcement, which includes the creation of a new UK-wide indicator of research quality. The…

Many parents and educators have questions before individualized education program (IEP) meetings. However, barriers to effective family/school partnership continue to exist, despite widespread consensus regarding the merits of a family-centered approach to providing services and supports, decades of research documenting positive outcomes from…

School-based services are well suited for youth with chronic conditions who manifest much of their impairment in the school setting, such as youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A significant literature on such programs at the elementary level exists, but little has been developed and tested at the secondary level. The…

This article seeks to replace the traditional and authoritative staff appraisal at a case-study school by a concept of performance management depicted as the performance enhancement and peer appraisal of teachers. It is achieved by elaborating an open system of performance management where teachers are empowered within the existing vertical…

The article examines the processes and challenges involved in conducting participatory research and evaluation in schools, by looking at a case study of a collaborative evaluation research that was conducted in a secondary school in Israel by two researchers and three teachers. It describes the experiences of the research team while conducting the…

This paper provides an overview of a portfolio-based teacher evaluation system at Auburn University (Alabama) designed to promote self-assessment, reflection, and professional growth of preservice teachers. This system was developed and implemented in response to a state mandate that all preservice teachers, prior to recommendation for state…

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…

This document provides guidelines for the process of moderation and verification of assessments for educators involved in adult education. As used in the education establishment in Australia, "moderation" is the process of ensuring the standardization of assessment. Through the moderation process, assessment procedures conducted in a…

A longitudinal study was planned to track a class in a prekindergarten program to determine program effectiveness. There are many problems in conducting a longitudinal study, most of which revolve around the long-term commitment required. A carefully designed information system is important. For the study in question, computer software and…