Both the need for, and the difficulties of, school effectiveness evaluation are examined, especially the setting of useful and objective performance standards. Several potential indicators and evaluation methods are reviewed. (SJL)

Future trends that involve either faculty development workers, their constituencies, or the milieu within which they exist are as complex as the future of higher education and are interrelated. (JD)

Student cognitive performance data and affective reactions provided the basis for a formative evaluation of this neuroanatomy curriculum for freshmen medical students. The cerebral hempispheres topic area was marked by poor cognitive performance and low ratings in lecture quality. Videotapes designed to augment neurophysiology also received low…

The concept of human resource planning in personnel administration is gradually reintroducing the need for control over personnel functions as is usually demanded of other functions such as production and finance. (Author/TA)

Presents a model or classification scheme for the types of information that could be collected to aid in formative evaluation of career education instructional products, and compares professional and legal product directives to conduct educational product evaluation to evaluation science's weak response to these mandates. (Editor/TA)

This research was done to determine if a random sample of normal first-grade children would demonstrate performance changes on a process assessment task when differential reinforcers were employed. A number of students improved under one of the reinforcers, but an equal number demonstrated depressed performance. (Author)

A balanced reading program must--in addition to providing for children's reading skill needs--include a well-planned "affective component" which provides for the development of their interests, attitudes, and personal values in relation to reading for information and enjoyment. (Author)

The significance of incorporating information regarding nonprogram factors as well as program factors in evaluation of teacher education programs is examined. (MM)

Focuses on the first of three stages of the path evaluation procedure for instructional software, performing the preliminary evaluation. The three main steps involved in preliminary evaluation are (1) a program is chosen for evaluation; (2) information is exchanged with the faculty developer; and (3) the instructional designer reviews the software…

An instructional improvement program in Hinsdale School District, Illinois, succeeded by emphasizing formative evaluation, administrator evaluation, and long-range planning. Participants learned that a new program should be consistent with district goals, focus on staff development, and acquire top-level commitment and resources. (CJH)

Program theory can be used to improve programs and policies. This article describes a set of techniques for complicating and simplifying program theory, referred to as conceptual and action heuristics. Methods such as analyzing metaphors, clarifying concepts, mapping, component assessment, causal modeling, and decision analysis are discussed. (JAZ)

This third in five-lesson tutorial on library evaluation focuses on three measures of reference effectiveness in terms of users' experience: total number of reference questions received, proportion of answers provided to inquiries received, and accuracy with which questions are answered. Four required and suggested readings and four references are…

Describes the development of INTERACT, a videotext system in which information and graphics were designed using a systematic multistage formative approach. The assessment of information needs is explained, and results of an evaluation completed after five weeks of operation in the student center at Syracuse University are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the importance of involving experts and learners in the formative evaluation of instructional materials. A case study describing the evaluation of a filmstrip/audiotape program is presented, and the importance of gathering feedback from multiple sources before making revision decisions is emphasized. (Author/LRW)

This discussion of how conditions of the recipient can affect effectiveness of feedback presents an overview of the topic (feedback functions and feedback about what, when, by whom, and types), and discusses factors affecting formative feedback, i.e., recipients' discrimination repertoires and self-monitoring behavior development in…