The ways in which a rating scale developed for problem-based medical curricula provides information that is useful in the area of curriculum reform were demonstrated in a study involving 95 first-year medical students at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec (Canada). The rating scale, based on the theory of problem-based learning of W. H.…

The design and evaluation of a rating scale for program evaluation in problem-based medical curricula are described. The design process was guided by a theory of how students learn in problem-based learning as modeled by W. H. Gijselaers and H. G. Schmidt (1988). The rating scale was used in an evaluation of a new problem-based, community-oriented…

In 1987, a task force was established to recommend appropriate actions to the North Carolina community college system for the regular review of curriculum instructional programs. The task force was to give particular attention to the proper roles of the colleges and the State Board of Community Colleges, the impact of regional accreditation…

Growing institutional concern for excellence coupled with legislative mandates calling for accountability have prompted many colleges to emphasize student outcomes when evaluating and designing courses and programs. A careful review of the accountability literature, however, suggests that continuing education courses and students, in spite of…

This book on implementing Montessori education in the public sector begins with a historical and social overview that reveals the usefulness of Montessori pedagogy as a means of national public school reform. The second chapter discusses equipment needed for Montessori schools, the scope and sequence of curriculum used, and minimal expectations…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a program to improve the reading/vocabulary skills of an ability-grouped fifth grade class of "low achievers" (N=15) through the implementation of a literature-based whole language approach. Students were read aloud to from quality children's literature. From these books, spelling and vocabulary…

This process evaluation focused on the compensatory education delivery system in reading and mathematics in the Saginaw (Michigan) School District, which consists of three programs: (1) an elementary academic achievement program that involved 2,105 students, who were taken out of regular classrooms; (2) a secondary academic achievement program…

This report updates the interim Virginia Employment Services Program (ESP) participation patterns and examines program success in mandating job search participation. Following an introductory chapter, chapter 2 discusses research design, sample, and data sources. (The sample contained 1,287 Work Incentive Program applicants and 1,897 recipients.)…

Self-Programmed Counseling, the instructor's guidance, and Self-Programmed Control (SPC), the student's response, was initially developed by Title III Project USTED (United Students and Teachers for Educational Development) for Mexican American college students on academic probation to use on a non-credit, special group counseling basis. As part…

This study sought to determine if changes occur in preservice students' self-concepts during the quarter they are enrolled in an elementary education methods course. Subjects were 24 elementary education majors in their junior or senior year prior to student teaching. Pre- and post-testing instruments were the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale…

This handbook provides educators with a practical planning and implementation guide for K-12 curriculum improvement in a context called career education. It also gives some direction for planning beyond the high school experience for continued learning and work placement. Chapter 1 establishes a rationale explaining the value of career education.…

Internal and external pressures that affect college program discontinuance schemes were investigated, based on minutes of the Kansas State Board of Regents and three other government-related groups/subgroups. During 1972-1986, a total of 206 programs were merged or discontinued. In 1972 a policy was enacted whereby masters programs that had…

This guide is intended to assist states and service delivery areas (SDAs) in addressing the new oversight responsibilities and opportunities stipulated by the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) with respect to net impact evaluations. It is divided into two main parts. The first part, which deals with issues in evaluating costs and benefits,…

This final report documents the findings of a study designed to evaluate the quality and efficiency of early education programs for handicapped children in Louisiana during 1985-86. More than 400 classes in 65 formal programs (residential, home-based, and center-based) serving approximately 5,000 handicapped children ages 3-5 were studied. The…

This evaluative report focuses on the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's field-based doctoral program, which was designed to educate potential and current community college personnel. First, introductory material describes the community college system in Massachusetts, explains the impetus for the creation of the doctoral program, discusses…