Drawing on the work of researchers in several disciplines, this article describes and discusses methods which can be used for analysing joint activity during computer-based, side-by-side, collaborative activity in educational settings. It is argued that the choice of methods in any particular study should take into account the range of…

This article seeks to explore the "fit" of "the network" as an organizational form being implemented in schools in England. It considers current trends within education policy, pedagogy and educational technology in the context of these new service delivery models and relates these to the current interest in learning networks.…

The assessment of students with disabilities has taken on considerable importance since the passing of the "Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)" of 1990. ADA requires that assessment of individuals with disabilities be performed with any reasonable accommodations being made. The considerations involved in assessing students with…

The effects of 9 assessor characteristics on scores given by 49 assessors to 111 assessees in 3 police and 6 fire service assessment centers for local governments were investigated. Assessors included those who had and who did not have experience in the job under consideration, and who differed on several other characteristics, including the…

This study was conducted to determine the degree of variance which exists among different groups of evaluators relative to their assessments of the teaching competencies demonstrated by preservice education students. Participants in the study were 75 undergraduates certified to teach by Washburn University's (Kansas) teacher preparation program…

This document illustrates holistic methods of evaluation, using an example of a new arts assessment mechanism developed by researchers involved in a five-year, large-scale assessment project called ARTS PROPEL. It is noted that these methods can be applied in many other content areas. ARTS PROPEL's philosophy and ministry guidelines are outlined…

This document provides a guide for the development of the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Economics Assessment. The framework is designed to assess the outcomes of student education in and understanding of economics in grade 12 as part of NAEP. Economic literacy is defined as the ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate…

The 2005 National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST) conference marked the 20th year of work on critically important accountability topics by the UCLA institution, "a tremendous accomplishment for a research center," according to Aimee Dorr, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.…

This paper addresses the methodological issues encountered when attempting to evaluate a college course's effectiveness by determining whether students who enroll in it perform at higher levels than students who did not enroll. The paper identifies resource people who may be helpful in the evaluation, and offers guidelines for the research…

This paper estimates the effects of state-imposed curriculum mandates on the test scores of public-school students who took the SAT in 2001. By 1998, 14 states had mandates that high-school students should take an economics course. For these states, the proportion of public-school students taking high-school economics was around twice that of…

This discussion paper is intended to inform the further development of the National Research and Evaluation Strategy (NRES) by strengthening its focus on evaluation in Australian vocational education and training (VET). Chapter 1 discusses the implications for the role of evaluation that changes in VET have caused in the past decade. Chapter 2…

Describes the development of two sets of materials designed to help group day carers and family day carers assess, monitor, and enhance the quality of their own provision. Describes the piloting of the materials (including development of an inclusionary paradigm of quality and consultation of educational and learning theories), and their testing…

A study of the effectiveness of teaching science to 2 classes of 15 and 20 ninth-graders, respectively, illustrates 5 aspects of educational evaluation: age factors in teachability, test unidimensionality, comparison of 2 classes of students regarding mean ability, objective difficulty of test items, and objective ability of individual students.…

This paper summarized contributors' ideas about evaluation as a field and where it is going. Topics discussed were qualitative versus quantitative debate; evaluation's purpose; professionalization; program failure; program development; evaluators as advocates; evaluation knowledge; evaluation expansion; and methodology and design. (SLD)

Describes the development of a scale for evaluating music student teachers' rehearsal effectiveness. Includes scale items representing aspects of rehearsal effectiveness for three interpretable factors: conducting technique, teacher-student rapport, and instructional skills. Advises that scaling of rehearsal effectiveness should be only part of a…