This final report describes a research project to identify tasks actually performed by vocational-technical personnel in Texas. The primary objectives of the study were to differentiate tasks and subtasks from competencies identified in earlier studies and to determine the relative amount of time spent on each identified task in order to develop a…

Presented are six inservice modules designed for personnel working with severely multiply handicapped students. Facilitator notes, activity notes, activity sheets, and worksheets or recording sheets are presented for the following modules: defining the problem and identifying what will meet the student's need, task analysis, systematic inquiry,…

An ethnographic depiction of the regularities of classroom instruction and an understanding of the student intent and response in such settings provide a perspective on both project Follow Through and the problem of task engagement. (Author/MLF)

The definition of hierarchical structure is reviewed, together with psychometric and experimental evidence regarding the existence of specific structures. A mathematical model including hierarchical and nonhierarchical options for a two component task is presented, along with an experimental design appropriate for testing the model and related…

Programmed instructional training materials in orientation and mobility were developed and field tested with 22 multiply handicapped blind infants and toddlers functioning between ages 0 and 3. Children receiving intervention from trainers using these materials demonstrated significant performance gains over control subjects in cognitive…

This article presents a system for organizing observations on the art performance of special education children. Included are samples of three data collection charts. Stresses using such data in prescribing appropriate instruction. (JDH)

A task specification chart that integrates the content facets and the procedural steps of a specified task is suggested as a tool for designing a test and interpreting its results. This procedure is demonstrated for a mathematics test covering one instructional unit on adding and subtracting fractions. (Author/GDC)

Based on data gathered in a participant observation project that focused on young children's behaviors during school structured literacy tasks, a study examined the relationship between learning to write and learning to perform school writing tasks. (HOD)

Description of an objective method for assigning weights to questions on examinations includes discussions of classical test theory, knowledge organization, and how task analysis can be used to identify knowledge elements required to solve specific problems, rank them, and assign objective weights to exam questions using a Pareto distribution (7…

In recent years, managing a vocational laboratory has become an increasingly difficult and complex task facing many vocational educators. Specialized instructional areas, diverse groups of students, and extended laboratory time have caused educators to seek alternate ways of providing practical "hands-on" instruction when traditional supervised…

A discussion of how office productivity, technological innovation, and changing work patterns of women may have an impact on business education. (HD)

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of forum discussion embedded within metacognitive guidance on mathematical literacy. In particular the study compares two learning environments: (a) Forum discussion with metacognitive guidance (FORUM+META); and (b) Forum discussion without metacognitive guidance (FORUM). Participants…

In computer-based simulations meant to support learning, students must bring a wide range of relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities to bear jointly as they solve meaningful problems in a learning domain. To function efficiently as an assessment, a simulation system must also be able to evoke and interpret observable evidence about targeted…

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether students expected course difficulty to be reflected in grade distributions and in the amount of out-of-class effort required for success. Students from both upper and lower division classes described the amount of time they expected to spend preparing for an easy class, a difficult class, and a…

This article reports a study examining the use of group activities in English language coursebooks published since 1990. Ten coursebooks were randomly selected for examination. The number and percentage of group activities and of group activities rated as fostering cooperation were calculated. The results are discussed in light of theory and…