As part of a project designed to identify appropriate and feasible methods of evaluating vocational education, this essay provides a perspective for evaluating vocational education in terms of outcomes. The first of four sections provides a rationale for studying educational outcomes. Section 2 focuses on the nature and meaning of outcomes and the…

A social learning model focusing on intrinsic outcomes of vocational programs is proposed. It would assess technical skills and knowledge, communication skills and literacy, and personal skills and attitudes. Instruments should be devised to measure characteristics of the learning setting, learner involved activities, and nature of consequences of…

A successful data collection system used to gather evaluative information about agricultural technician programs involves five components: an enrollee's report, second year student report, survey of early leavers, employer's report of graduates, and a graduate survey. A schematic diagram of the data collection process is included. (KP)

Speech delivered to a 1974 Society for College and University Planning workshop on the need for more useful techniques for evaluating educational programs in American postsecondary education. (JG)

Provides supportive evidence for a concept (M. Scriven's) of formative evaluation as a method for ongoing improvement of educational programs (including continuing education) through a description of the development and modification of a workshop in rehabilitation nursing, based on formative evaluation procedures. (TA)

This study examines recent manpower training evaluation studies to illustrate how local program managers can evaluate their programs for greater program effectiveness. An evaluation model was developed to assess the long-term impact of specific classroom and on-the-job training programs on selected participants. Guidelines for program planning are…

Program advisory committees in vocational education have traditionally been charged with the responsibility of evaluating programs for the purpose of keeping them up to date with business and industry practices and current technology. Rapid technological development and accountability requirements have led to state mandates that the advisory…

This guide provides an outline of the components necessary in a written evaluation plan for vocational education programs. The four components that a plan for evaluation should include are described. The first component, the specific goals of the evaluation process, is divided into these two sections determined by the type of evaluation conducted:…

Much of the evaluation of vocational education at the state and local levels has been conducted in response to federal legislation. Although some of the evaluative information has been useful for program improvement, much has been collected only for compliance with federal and state mandates. The educational reform movement has prompted school…

This bulletin looks in more detail at the attempt of several local education agencies in Great Britain to deliver a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) program based on modular training. The paper covers in detail effective program review, an integral part of the training program. Topics discussed include training programs (on- and off-the-job…

The responsive model of evaluation has been seen as an alternative to formal evaluation models. This model was used for the evaluation of a Certificate in Industrial Relations program in a Quebec French university. This study focused on two main objectives: first, the local utility of the program being assessed, along with the major problems…

Evaluation, as currently practiced in vocational education, may not contribute to program improvement; in fact, it may be counterproductive. Rather than asking how evaluations can be improved, it might be better to ask if a relationship does, in fact, exist between evaluation and program improvement and, if such a relationship exists, what new…

The Discrepancy Evaluation Model (DEM), developed in 1966 by Malcolm Provus, provides information for program assessment and program improvement. Under the DEM, evaluation is defined as the comparison of an actual performance to a desired standard. The DEM embodies five stages of evaluation based upon a program's natural development: program…

This brief describes new requirements for vocational education program improvement and evaluation mandated by the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1990. Recommendations to enhance the impact of program improvement and evaluation activities are included. The first two sections discuss developing new state…

An examination was made of Federal program statistics on vocational education during the past 10 years by the Bureau of Occupational and Adult Education of the U. S. Office of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics of the U. S. Department of Education. The study found that despite a mandate for reform, the National Center's…