Quality in library technical services is explored in light of changes produced by automation. Highlights include a definition of quality; new opportunities and shifting priorities; cataloging (fullness of records, heading consistency, accountability, local standards, automated checking); need for new skills (management, staff); and boons of…

Educational institutions are being encouraged by accrediting agencies to move beyond the traditional measures of success such as satisfaction surveys from students, employers, and alumni. They stress the use of a variety of measurement tools to audit students' work. Thus, this study will seek to identify multiple assessment strategies that can be…

The Assessing Quality on Digital Reference team conducted two site visits at Florida Libraries in August 2001. The objectives of these visits were to: document how digital reference services are currently being planned for, delivered, and evaluated in libraries; understand how "quality" in digital reference is defined in these…

This article explores the perennial tension between the demands of management for quality projects that can be used to attract new markets and students and the traditional scholarly approach to learning. Universities are unique environments compared to industry settings. They are unique in that the responsibility for the quality of the teaching…

This paper aims to provide a critical review and comparison of the following sets of standards of practice for teachers: (1) The Victorian Interim Teacher Class Standards (ITCS), especially Interim Teacher Class Standards for Beginning Teachers; (2) Professional Standards for Teachers; (3) The National Competencies for Beginning Teaching; (4) The…

This report presents the overall quality assurance framework for initial vocational education in Denmark and the Netherlands and 10 case studies on quality assurance initiatives at Dutch and Danish vocational colleges. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the policy context on quality. Chapter 2 views the quality debate from the perspective of the…

The current practice of accrediting technical education is based on a set of policies and comprehensive standards pertaining to all aspects of the institution. These policies and standards are applied by institutional personnel to conduct a self-study based on the school's mission and by an independent team of technical educators-evaluators to…

This videotape and discussion guide offer a workshop plan that draws on an elementary school's innovative and successful application of Dr. Edwards Deming's Quality Principles. Designed to introduce teachers, administrators, school-board members, parents, and community and government leaders to quality assurance, the videotape uses on-site footage…

This report describes the past 15 years of work by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) to raise the standards for teacher quality. The NBPTS identified five core propositions that describe the knowledge, skills, and dispositions characterizing accomplished teaching. It created professional standards for K-12 teachers,…

This almanac provides information about the major participants in external quality review in higher education, listing recognized regional and national accrediting organizations, specialized and professional accrediting organizations, and state agencies, with contact available for each organization and agency. An overview section: discusses the…

This study examined whether or not there were any significant difference among educational leaders in their views on whether regional accreditation should be used to enhance achievement interests of minorities in American colleges and universities, and what variables might account for any reported differences. The results of the study, which used…

This issue of "The Evaluation Exchange" focuses on out-of-school time (OST). Several authors provide insights into how they, and others, are tackling measurement issues, from using technology and data systems to collect information and track progress, to applying lessons learned from developing early childhood quality measures. Other authors…

With a growing number of courses offered online and degrees offered through the Internet, there is a considerable interest in online education, particularly as it relates to the quality of online learning instruction. The major concerns are centering on the following questions: What will be the new role for instructor in online education? How will…

Teacher-made tests are a major but little researched part of the drama of testing in schools and classrooms. This report gives a view into the inner workings of this aspect of testing, which occupies more teacher and student time and effort than any other. (Author)

The procedures of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry's Office of External Educational Programs are reviewed to show how quality assurance techniques can be categorized. The format was designed to evaluate quality assurance procedures for both the educational and service aspects of eye care. (MLW)