Environment and sustainable development show how policies are becoming ever more complex and ambiguous. This trend calls for new evaluation approaches. They need to be more clearly focused on specific, explicit concerns. They must be driven by a strategic concept of use to overcome the vulnerability to manipulation of many integrative, essentially…

Determining the best methods of assessment for a library instruction program in a large research university can be a challenging task. Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University Library has pilot-tested three methods of formative and summative assessment for its library instruction program--attitudinal, outcomes-based, and gap-measure--and…

Continuing professional development for teaching is important for institutional renewal, teacher development and student learning improvement. However, our longitudinal research into provision of continuing professional development has shown that the majority of educators who attend professional development workshops do not put what they have…

Establishing an online community of professional learners was one component of a multi-year professional development project with an overall goal of improving the ability of career and technical educators to use and interpret technical assessment data. Educators from five states and nine different schools participated in a research-based workshop…

This paper presents a comprehensive usability study conducted within the context of a Europe-wide project. The design of the evaluated e-learning platform is based on an innovative approach to the education of young Europeans by integrating into the curricula of a Europe-wide network of 14 schools different state-of-the-art technologies in…

AN EVALUATION OF ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH ON SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS CONDUCTED AT CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS WAS REPORTED. IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS WERE CONDUCTED FOR OCCUPATIONAL, LIBERAL, RELATIONAL, AND LITERACY EDUCATION FUNCTIONS. RESEARCH PROCEDURES WERE (1) TO IDENTIFY, SELECT, AND OBTAIN RESEARCH STUDIES, (2) TO MAKE CRITICAL ANALYSES AND…

Describes an exploratory program for student teachers consisting of a course in social studies curriculum and methods, student teaching seminars, and supervision and direction of classroom activities by their co-operating teachers. (DR)

This article explores the utilization of qualitative methodologies in program evaluation, the rationale for using these approaches, and the potential qualitative applications within evaluation. It also describes the "scientific" and "artistic" qualitative methodologies, suggests practical qualitative application, and calls for…

Describes an outplacement training program conducted in a small group format with the option of individual follow-up counseling sessions. Program elements discussed include lecture topics, inventory of skills, job search activities, individual counseling, participant attitudes, and recommendations. (CT)

Describes a program evaluation model that was developed over three semesters of teaching an introductory graduate-level course in program evaluation. The framework uses a systems approach that emphasizes its sequenced methodology and the significant of monitoring work through feedback loops in an ongoing revision process. (Author/SLD)

Discusses the need to develop a comprehensive research agenda to build knowledge about service learning assessment and refine concepts of best practice for assessment, examining: what is known about the subject; principles of good practice for service learning assessment; what knowledge is needed to develop the research agenda; and how this agenda…

The authors examine the impact of a program designed to encourage students to read popular business magazines. The results suggest that a reading program can improve student knowledge of current events, but that more work is needed to encourage students to attain timely knowledge of the current environment of business.

The objective of many environmental education programs is to promote pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors in students. However, evaluation of these programs has focused on asking participants what they think (attitudes) and what they do (behaviors) regarding the environment problems through self-report questionnaires and interviews. These…

A framework is described to assist institutions in evaluating the extent to which activities described as "quality improvements" or "quality enhancements" are likely to directly improve the student experience. The framework classifies ways of improving the student experience into "coaching improvements",…