One college teacher has devised a method of peer assessment of student presentations that has decreased the spread of grades given to individuals by other class members and enhanced the correlation of peer and teacher assessments. Four aspects of the presentation are graded: knowledge; body language; voice; and overall effect. (Author/MSE)

This directory describes graduate programs in instructional technology, educational media and communications, school library media, and closely allied programs in the United States. Entries are listed alphabetically by state, following a classified list of programs. (AEF)

Discusses cooperative learning, asserting that students must be individually accountable and credited for their efforts to help teammates attain goals. Describes the Peer and Self-Evaluation System (PSES), a new and reliable procedure in which students identify and record team skills and receive confidential feedback regarding personal strengths…

Greece has used elements of the Commission of the European Communities' pilot projects and proposals to develop a procedure integrating three steps: a self-evaluation process culminating in a report prepared by the higher education institution or department, an external peer-review evaluation, and publication of the report. (18 references) (MLH)

Presents an alternative college admission model that may afford protection from controversy over admission selectivity, yet maintain a reasonable degree of variability in predicting students' future academic success. The model links prospective students' grade point averages, rank in class, and a district performance index or similar predictor,…

Discusses limitations of "Comparing Distance Learning and Classroom Learning: Conceptual Considerations," Smith and Dillon's physical science view of educational technology. Suggests that a systems approach is necessary to describe distance education and define a set of principles and rules for its effective use, as well as a set of criteria to…

Whether or not colleges should require students to have a computer as a condition for admission is discussed. In determining policy on this issue, governing boards are urged to consider the rationale for such a requirement and whether or not the campus culture and infrastructure are appropriate for the change. (MSE)

Discusses criteria for evaluating school library information services. Highlights include types of services; physical facilities; library usage; circulation statistics; changes due to technology; fill rate, or the percentage of successful searches for library materials; OPAC (online public access catalog) reports; observation; and examining…

Questions whether higher education can fairly evaluate a 21st century institution when using standards from earlier centuries that may be outdated by technology and do not mesh with the population that virtual universities serve. Discusses the background; differences between traditional and new services, roles, methods, and materials;…

For service-learning proponents, the emphasis on assessment presents special challenges: definitions vary widely; credible testing is in its infancy; and tracking causal effects on academics is difficult, intrusive, and expensive. Political will may diminish if schools are forced to choose between school service programs and high test scores. (MLH)

A response to a paper on Translation Quality Assessment (TQA) and the training of translators focuses on the paper's criticism of the theoretical basis for teaching and evaluating student work. It discusses how criteria for evaluation of translations are determined and the role of the client/audience in this process. (MSE)

Describes a review of literature from 1966-96 identifying enrichment programs for underrepresented minority pre-college students sponsored by medical schools and affiliated programs. The review found 19 articles describing 27 programs, of which 12 were evaluated. Program design, components, evaluations, and effectiveness are discussed.…

Describes several short geometry tasks that go beyond the simple recognition of figures and properties. Presents scoring rubrics and questions that might be useful to middle school teachers developing short open-ended questions that encourage and assess students' thinking. (ASK)

Discussion of the assessment of distance or "distributed" higher education programs looks at issues unique to this delivery approach, key components of an effective program, accreditation concerns, and the need to adopt principles of good practice. Salient issues are outlined in the areas of curriculum and instruction, evaluation and assessment,…

Investigates the impact of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology in an interactive environment providing distance education in library and information science at two San Jose State University (California) sites. The main purpose of the study was to develop a reliable and valid evaluation instrument. Contains 6 tables. (Author/AEF)