Research pointing to the need for routine support and followup for families with infants leaving Neonatal Intensive Care Units is described. A discharge planning process is then recommended, involving assessing the infant's needs, family functioning, family needs, and cultural considerations and linking families with community services. (JDD)

Reviews current research on effective strategies in teaching Logo that promote transfer of learning. Highlights include transfer theory; teacher intervention; the need for structured Logo environments; mediated instruction; teacher-designed microworlds; the role of peers in the learning process; and assessment of Logo learning. (34 references)…

Two parent report inventories geared at assessing language skills in toddlers are examined, in terms of reliability, validity, and application. The MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory: Toddlers and the Language Development Survey are compared and their combined use in handicap identification is discussed. (PB)

A survey of faculty (n=223) and students (n=157) in two different curriculum tracks (problem-based/student-centered primary care vs. regular) at one medical school gathered opinions on the methods and criteria of student evaluation. Differences occurred primarily in the perceptions of first- and second-year students in the problem-based…

Analysis of patient logbooks kept by 75 medical students in a family medicine clerkship provided a great deal of information about the nature of students' experience, changes taking place as the year progressed, the degree to which program objectives were being met, and differences between sites. (MSE)

Presents ideas developed by library school students at Emporia State University for planning and implementing a library orientation to meet the information needs of academic support personnel. Library services, information materials, and library personnel are considered; and two methods for evaluating the success of the orientation program are…

Figural response (FR) items in architecture were compared with multiple-choice (MC) counterparts for their ability to predict architectural problem-solving proficiency of 33 practicing architects, 34 architecture interns, and 53 architecture students. Although both FR and MC predicted verbal design problem solving, only FR scores predicted…

There are many ways in which electronic technology can be used to support developmental efforts in teacher evaluation. One important way will be providing unobtrusive and easy-to-collect documentation and feedback in evaluation. Computer-mediated telecommunication also has great potential for the promotion of professional development. (SLD)

The history of research and development (R&D) and its evaluation within the 3M Company are traced as an example of the progression of the use of evaluation and evaluation techniques. Scoring methods, cost-benefit analysis, and risk analysis have been among the most frequently used program evaluation methods. (SLD)

Using responses of 123 elementary school teachers, a battery of performance-assessment tasks designed to generate responses to reading tests was evaluated from task development and scoring perspectives. More than one dozen types of errors were identified. Practical outcomes of the study and improvement of task development and scoring are…

Discusses how the Science Activity Filter can facilitate elementary school teachers' choices of appropriate science activities for their classrooms. The filter is a process for choosing activities that considers seven factors: (1) meaningful learning; (2) the amount of time required; (3) cost of materials; (4) safety; (5) level of difficulty; (6)…

Examines problems inherent in the overuse of testing as a way to identify giftedness, especially with respect to assessing the culturally diverse. Use of portfolios is suggested as an alternative procedure that can provide a more equitable and culturally fair assessment of the culturally and linguistically diverse child. (SLD)

Considers approaches to assessing writing disabilities that use theory-based process measures to explain discrepancies between intelligence quotient (IQ) and achievement; may define learning disabilities independent of IQ; and employ branching diagnosis based on selected tests rather than all tests in standard battery. Outlines model for using…

Procedures that could be used to assess progress in instructional programs designed to enhance cognitive skills are reviewed, discussing measures of the following parameters: (1) knowledge acquisition, organization, and structure; (2) problem representation; (3) mental models; (4) metacognitive skills; (5) automaticity of performance; and (6)…

Using authentic assessment means making assessment practices match instructional practices. Biological Sciences Curriculum Study divides assessment into three categories: informal, formative, and summative. Specific strategies are provided for using each assessment type. Teachers are assessing authentically when evaluation becomes an ongoing…