The Technology-Rich Authentic Learning Environments (TRALE) project aims to improve young children's literacy skills through the creation of a community of technology enriched classroom environments. TRALE has been implemented in kindergarten through grade 3 classrooms in one urban elementary school in the District of Columbia, a school located in…

The University of Houston-Clear Lake has developed a systematic design process to use in facilitating the development of online distance education courses. The process incorporates three semesters, during which faculty members have the opportunity to consult with a design team that consists of instructional designers, World Wide Web developers,…

This paper describes an ongoing research project that uses a set of formative evaluation activities to examine a multimedia production group project in a teacher education course at the University of Lethbridge (Alberta, Canada). The study presents the notion of peer evaluation and target population feedback as tools for scaffolding students'…

This report summarizes the results of the Year 3 evaluation study of the Students and Teachers Accessing Real-time Knowledge (STARK) Program in the West Orange Consolidated Independent School District (CSID). The overall purpose of the evaluation was twofold: (a) to provide formative evaluation data to the participant schools to serve as a basis…

Used data from 459 college students to outline a problem specific approach to alcohol abuse prevention. Survey data described the distribution of drinkers and nondrinkers, group differences in consumption, and problems commonly experienced. Relationships between consumption and beliefs, attitudes and social pressure were used to design peer…

Describes procedures used to design and conduct formative evaluation of a vocational planning process implemented by the Florida Division of Vocational Education. The rationale for using formative evaluation is discussed, as well as questions to be addressed, role of questionnaires and interviews, and implications for evaluators, planners,…

Discusses the rapid accumulation of microcomputers in elementary schools and the development of teacher-training programs to promote wise implementation and to prepare a foundation for curriculum change. In particular, it describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of an inservice program developed by the United Nations International…

Describes the formative evaluation of Project IMPACT, a computer-based information system designed to provide school personnel with frequent systematic evaluation information on student progress. Preliminary evidence indicates that with this information instructors can modify instruction to meet the needs of the students and thereby may increase…

Daily participant observations of social development over two years at Family House, a residential treatment program, were coded into a narrative and analyzed using a phenomenological perspective allowing "native categories" of significance to emerge and guide the analysis. The strengths and limitations of this novel research strategy…

Describes immersion weekends sponsored by the University of Calgary. The discussion includes examples from actual weekends to describe the planning and implementation. A qualitative evaluation is also discussed. (Author/AMH)

Teachers, like athletes, are more likely to adopt new ways of doing their jobs if they are coached, and they are also likely to get worse before they get better. This article describes the coaching of teachers and includes an interview with a football coach to illustrate parallels with athletics. (PGD)

Describes the role of research and evaluation in the growth, evolution, and impact of developmental television in India. Eleven references are listed. (Author/LLS)

The role of faculty colleagues in the evaluation of college teaching is not defined adequately. A distinction needs to be made between summative evaluation conducted for administrative decisions such as pay increases, promotion, and tenure, and formative evaluations designed to improve teaching. (MLW)

Authors explore ways of helping students improve their self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and value to an employer. Offers strategies from the world of work (customer satisfaction cards) and the world of dance (chorus line class that improves poise in job interviews). Suggests ways to find appropriate instructional materials for handicapped…

Randomly selected instructors were given feedback from midterm student ratings and met with the authors to discuss the ratings and strategies for improvement. More favorable student ratings at the end of the term, better final examination scores, and more favorable affective outcomes resulted. (Author/RD)