Reviews formative evaluation and presents a model for instructional material development and revision. The model can be used for curriculum development efforts and is designed to be helpful in a variety of instructional efforts. (CT)

Two studies at North Carolina State University illustrate ongoing efforts to assess the impact of extension programs. Also considered are two ways in which findings can be useful to program administrators. (CT)

Data on the intrinsic characteristics of an educational program are essential in pilot testing new programs in order to determine how successfully design components have achieved their intended purpose. At the outset of an evaluation of such data, it is necessary to define the evaluator's role and determine what intrinsic information will be…

Formative evaluation of instructional materials may not be time efficient or cost effective. Scriven's definition of formative evaluation, used in this paper, applies to the assessment and refinement of instructional materials still under development. Implementation of formative evaluation techniques does not seem to yield significant improvement…

The 3-year Dean's Grant Project at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale was designed to: (1) create a set of materials and resources, relating to serving the handicapped, to be used in the training of teachers; (2) provide training for faculty on Public Law 94-142 and the implications of the law for training teachers and administrators; (3)…

The Research and Planning Division at Ontario Educational Communications Authority undertakes formative, summative, background, and policy research to provide better educational services to audiences via electronic and associated media. Research activities are carried out by three groups. Planning and Development formulates long term plans,…

The emergence and purpose of formative evaluation as a tool for curriculum developers is described. It is pointed out that formative evaluation seeks to establish the merit of instructional materials during their development, to modify and improve the design of instructional materials, and to establish their worth so they may be adapted for use in…

This report describes the development and effectiveness of a manual created for use in developing state plans for vocational education. The task of developing the manual involved six kinds of activities, including the selection and use of an advisory committee, utilization of a technical review panel, and assessment of the manual. Topics covered…

This report describes the procedures and results of a field test of an instructional unit intended for upper elementary and secondary teachers who have some access to computers. The unit consists of five booklets covering the rudiments of computer hardware, computer programing languages, the different roles the computer may play in instruction,…

The development of videodiscs for science instruction in public schools requires a recognition of the unique characteristics of the public school environment and sensitivity to the persistent problems associated with science content instruction. This report discusses the conceptualization, development, and formative evaluation of a series of…

The processes of instructional materials development and dissemination used in four Stanford Program on International and Cross Cultural Education (SPICE) projects dealing with Latin America, Africa, China, and Japan are described, and evaluative comments based on a review of the curriculum development process are made. The major purpose of the…

This publication describes the major components of the Directorate of Community Education (PENMAS) Nonformal Education Project in Indonesia. Chapters 1-3 give an overview of PENMAS, including its history and development, and of the scope and goals of the project. Chapters 4-6 describe various types and levels of staff training conducted under the…

The effectiveness of a teacher-made slide-tape presentation for training experienced business teachers to teach the Intensive Office Program (IOP)--a high school course incorporating office practice, office machines, advanced typewriting and shorthand--was field tested. Three groups were involved: undergraduate non-business education students,…

The Systematic Curriculum and Instructional Development (SCID) model provides a tested procedure for developing high-quality, low-cost competency-based education and tech prep curriculum and instructional materials. It consists of 5 phases--analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation--and 23 components. The analysis phase…

This document contains the performance report, evaluation, and appended materials of a project to develop and implement a career exploration internship for physically handicapped students involving industry participation and educational support. The performance report discusses activities, including staff hiring, internship site development,…