This paper examines possible explanations for the fact that evaluation results are rarely used. Most explanatory factors for use of results in decision making mentioned in the literature have been clustered in three categories of variables. They concern: (1) the making of decisions about the practical problem; (2) the way in which evaluation is…

A retrospective self-assessment used with 22 county Extension agents from western Washington who had participated in a three-day inservice education program in agronomy was evaluated. Each participant was asked to draw an S on a Likert-type scale to indicate where each person started at the beginning of the workshop and an N where they perceived…

Despite the fact that teacher evaluation has long been a factor in the areas of promotion and salary increase, the proposed statewide implementation of a teacher assessment plan (the Mississippi Teacher Assessment Instrument) has aroused anxiety in Mississippi's educational environment. It is therefore critical that principals actively promote a…

The fifth in a series, this report reviews Apple microcomputer courseware--and some IBM computer courseware--authorized by Alberta Education from June 1985 to March 1986. It provides detailed evaluations of 97 authorized programs in business education (11), business education/math (1), computer literacy (4), computer literacy/math/problem solving…

In response to Texas State Board of Education Rules for Curriculum, which stipulate that instruction shall be provided in the essential elements of art, music, and theatre in prekindergarten through grade six, this guide offers suggestions to assist schools with initial implementation of the theatre arts curriculum. The first section of the guide,…

This study determined the effects of two data collection techniques on response rate, response bias, response validity and respondent evaluation. Administration of a computer survey was compared to a machine readable paper survey. Cover letters were sent to 249 college sophomores who were randomly selected and proportionally stratified by intended…

At the request of the Oklahoma Department of Education, the Technical Assistance Center 3 West conducted a statewide review of local Chapter 1 evaluation data to provide possible explanations for the unusual standardized test score gains or losses reported by a number of local school districts. During the two months of quality control visits, 35…

The Alaska Statewide Assessment Test (ASAT) in reading and math is administered to fourth and eighth graders every two years. This document contains three separate assessment reports generally titled "An Update on the Alaska Statewide Testing Program." Assessment Report 8, "The Interpretive Panels Look at Results," lists…

The Air Force Occupational Measurement Center conducts task-based occupational surveys of Air Force specialties that include supervisor ratings on recommended training emphasis for entry-level airmen. Priorities are input to the Instructional System Development training model, which guides the development and revision of specialty training…

Various approaches have traditionally been used to evaluate college students' writing performance. The College Outcome Measures Program (COMP), designed to assess and improve college programs, offers new ways to collect writing samples that include responses to reasoning and problem solving tasks. Thus, the effectiveness of written communication…

A collaborative effort on the part of teachers from and consultants for the University of California, Irvine/California Writing Project, this guide presents ideas for teaching writing as a process at all levels of the curriculum. Each section of the guide presents an essay introducing the section topic, followed by practical ideas for teaching…

This document contains California's guidelines for serving students with severe orthopedic impairments in the public schools. Elements characteristic of well-designed programs are described in the guide's three chapters, and each description is followed by a series of questions for program evaluation. The first chapter addresses approaches to…

Four models for teaching students how to interact more effectively with text at the junior high, high school, and university levels are reviewed in this paper. Each model emphasizes one or more of the following classroom components and their interactions--student resources, text characteristics, tests or course goals, and instructional strategies.…

A survey of teachers' perceptions of student competencies, course content, instructional methods, and evaluation procedures was conducted to determine if previously reported conclusions about secondary school speech curricula had changed and if there were differences between the curricula in large and small high schools. The survey instrument was…

This study describes a method for providing easily understood information on the comparative instructional program effects of using multiple instructional products. The method was derived in the context of a national evaluation of three instructional product systems each of which was used to teach readiness and initial reading skills to…