Although the "Don't Know" (DK) option has received telling criticism in maximum performance summative tests, its potential use in formative evaluation was considered and judged to be more promising. The pretest of an instructional module was administered with DK options. Examinees were then required to answer each question to which they had…

A plan for educational assessment is presented which focuses upon three interdependent aspects of a management control system: input, process, and output. Input encompasses the provision, allocation, and assignment of resources, both human and material; process concerns the application and utilization of these resources in ways that will produce…

A complete mathematics testing program, involving diagnosis, prescription, and implementation, was developed by the Committee of Low-Achievers in Mathematics, Denver Area (COLAMDA), for use with low achievers in grades 7-12. A complete set of performance objectives serves as the course outline. Seventy-nine pretests and post-tests, covering whole…

This research conducted at the U.S. Naval Academy as part of a total effort to design a multi-media physics course, collected data on the learning materials used in Fall 1969, investigated the technical characteristics of the criterion-referenced test items used, and studied student preferences for the alternative study approaches. The ultimate…

Validation in curriculum development is the "check-and-balance" dimension of any instructional system, in the broadest sense almost synonymous with evaluation and accountability. This paper relates validation to individual, formative, and summative evaluation. Validation measures to be applied to instructional systems are outlined according to a…

As part of the Phase II report of the Illinois Occupational Curriculum Project, this document focuses on the structuring of a model for occupational curriculum development and evaluation. Thus, a questionnaire was developed to identify: (1) the tasks and various activities within the institutions, (2) some of the key curriculum changes that have…

This paper presents a model for continuous, systematic evaluation of ongoing programs and specifies data needed for decisionmaking in the areas of program adoption, curtailment, or expansion. These data give the decisionmaker the necessary information for program planning in today's sophisticated educational environment. (Author/RA)

A review of four models of instructional materials evaluation is presented to synthesize the state of the art of such evaluation. A model for evaluation is then developed which includes the following elements: (1) context evaluation and needs assessment, (2) input evaluation, (3) determination of resources, (4) program planning, (5) program…

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,…

A course evaluation plan, which utilized midsemester questionnaires and personal interviews, and was based on Stake's responsive approach to evaluation, was implemented during a doctoral seminar. The validity of the plan is attributed to its focus on portrayals and narratives rather than preordinate objectives, experimental controls, or criterion…

Group supervision behaviors were organized into categories representing requirements of effective group supervision. To determine the requirements for effective supervision in groups, reports of behaviors exhibited by a physicain and by a behavioral scientist were collected. Results yielded an empirical account of group supervision to augment the…

The paper discusses early research on evaluating services for Australian disabled persons, the Schonell Evaluation Procedure (SEP) developed for use in Activity Therapy Centres (adult continuing education programs), the modification of SEP for use in special schools for children, and emergent and unmet needs for evaluating adult special education…

Describes the field evaluation process used to assess the validity, effectiveness, and efficiency of an interactive microcomputer simulation program designed for teachers and student teachers preparing to work with emotionally or behaviorally handicapped elementary school-age children. Results indicate the simulation was judged to be useful. (MBR)

Describes the development and evaluation of interactive computer-based formative tests containing multiple choice questions based on Bloom's taxonomy and their use in a core-level higher education business statistics course prior to graded examinations to determine where students are experiencing difficulties. (MBR)

Describes how the Educational Software short course produced by the Open University Micros in Schools project trains inservice teachers to select suitable educational software for classroom use. Findings of a formative evaluation of an activity in the course in which teachers examined three commercially produced educational software packages are…