Reflecting the general concern about student writing performance, this book is designed to present recent advances in the theory and practice of assessing writing ability to all teachers of writing, as well as writing examiners and administrators. The book explores (1) reconsidering the links between teaching and assessing writing, (2) the…

Although there are many reasons to evaluate training and development (T & D) programs, it is often time-consuming and expensive to do so. However, evaluations can be conducted by an auditing approach. The auditing approach to evaluating T & D offers three advantages. Auditing is quicker and less expensive than traditional methods, and it uses a…

Procedures are described that have been implemented in evaluating minority medical education programs operated by the University of Virginia School of Medicine since 1984. Both process and outcome evaluation procedures have been used. Results of evaluation efforts are reviewed by program staff to design program improvements and modifications.…

This pilot project explored the use of video in an elementary school as a catalyst for group discussion and self reflection in connection with conflict resolution. Subjects were 32 students in an extended day care program for grades K-6; 80% of these students were of Hispanic background. Videos were created with the students, and then played back…

A case study description of work toward developing an evaluation model for implementation of a statewide principal incentive program illustrates the achieving of consensus when multiple stakeholders' interests were involved. The type of training and background needed by evaluators are also considered. In response to the Educational Improvement Act…

This paper addresses the training of health workers to become more effective communicators and teachers in third world countries. The first part introduces the health worker to the traditional medicine and cultural beliefs of third world people. Part two on educational psychology deals with helping the health worker manage people's resistance to…

The paper describes problems endemic to the evaluation of programs for gifted and talented students. The goals of gifted and talented programs are often substantially different from those covered on outcome measures available to schools. When decisions are being made about the type of programs to be provided, parallel consideration should be given…

This paper explores the question of the relative quality of the academic and professional components of teacher education programs from three different angles: (1) a critical assessment of several widely publicized and representative critiques of education courses with a focus on describing the variety of the criticisms and on assessing the…

In reviewing the literature related to education for family life, this discussion focuses on three main areas: the need for such education, trends in the development of family life education programs, and the results of evaluations of a wide range of programs. Evidence was found concerning (1) the key role families play in their members'…

Theory is a useful guide for program design and implementation. This paper uses a large-scale school-based delinquency prevention project to illustrate the use of theory in program design and the need for line staff to have a clear understanding of the program's theoretical underpinnings. Evaluation results for the program show that the program…

On July 8, 9 and 10, 1981 the National Institute of Education (NIE) sponsored a "hearing" on minimum competency testing (MCT). The hearing, which was to clarify issues related to MCT, was modeled after adversarial and judicial evaluation approaches. The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory was responsible for the overall evaluation…

A summary of major concerns of UNESCO's Educational Innovation for Development program in six world regions is presented in this conference report. The conference included educational network participants from Asia, the Caribbean, Southeast Europe, the Arab States, Africa, and Central America. The program encourages innovative educational efforts…

The Louisiana Round Table of Program Evaluators was organized in 1980 among educational evaluators from large parish school systems and the State Department of Education to discuss topics of mutual concern. Since its inception the group has been instrumental in the development and implementation of various workshops directed toward the improvement…

This document provides a detailed overview of all data collection, analysis, and reporting aspects of a third-party, independent evaluation conducted in Illinois to determine the impact of the 214 vocational education Quality Assistance Plans funded in fiscal year 1983. The effectiveness of the Impact Assessment Design as a resource in Quality…

Based on a workshop presented by Charles Wales, a guided design project was developed for a junior mechanical design class at California State University-Chico. This course involves lectures on the design process and an extension of the basic mechanics of materials concepts, particularly as related to design and prevention of failure. The…