As the second volume in a 4-volume evaluation report on the University of Massachusetts Non-Formal Education Project (UMass NFEP) in rural Ecuador, this volume details the evaluation design. Cited as basic to the evaluation design are questions which ask: (1) What kinds of effects (changes) can be observed? and (2) What are characteristics of the…

The course consists of the basic and simpler methods of inspecting and nondestructive testing of parts and materials to insure the quality and reliability of the finished product. The outline consists of six blocks totaling 135 hours: (1) defects in the metal ingot, (2) defects resulting from processing metals, (3) defects in metals in service,…

Quality is seen as a primitive characteristic of media, but one that can be manipulated in various ways. Since media vary in their "relating power," that is, their ability to involve students, standards of quality also may vary in the ways certain production technique parameters, such as lighting, sound, and exposure, are manipulated. Some media,…

The subject of restructuring teacher education and working toward the improvement of educational opportunities in the schools is addressed. Teacher education faculties often are in power struggles with other faculties in colleges and universities and are often underrated as professionals. Decision-making in regard to teacher education is becoming…

Discusses the need for environmental health inspections in schools. Reports on the results of a survey of Clackamas County (Oregon) school kitchens, in relation to a high incidence of hepatitis A. Describes the variety of violations found and urges that schools no longer be exempt from state health division regulations. (TW)

All schools need to constantly reflect on the quality of their work and the progress and achievements that they make over time. The primary goal of an accountability system is to help schools improve through critical self-reflection. It enables students, teachers, and other members of the school community to evaluate their practices, especially…

This is the last in a series of four policy briefs to be published by The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement in 2005. The briefs are intended to provide fresh insights and useful advice to policymakers and school assistance providers. The first part of this policy brief breaks down the process of sustaining improvement and…

This bulletin is intended to help British further education colleges clarify their rationale for entering into collaborative programs, assess prospective partners, define and implement good practice at all stages of provision, and establish rigorous quality assurance procedures. Following an introduction, Further Education Funding Council…

This study explored the role of leadership, especially that of the college president, in the application of continuous quality improvement (CQI) principles in higher education. The life history method study focused on William Troutt, president of Belmont University (Tennessee), who has been successfully guiding CQI initiatives at the institution…

This collection of 12 papers was presented at a 1987 conference at which speakers presented personal perspectives on institutional effectiveness. Papers are organized under three major headings: "Managing Quality: Methods and Outcomes,""Institutional Response," and "Special Issues." Titles include: (1) "Managing the Meaning of Institutional…

This paper describes efforts at East Carolina University (North Carolina) to develop a survey instrument and related procedures to assess distance learning courses. The survey was conducted during the 1998-99 academic year via the World Wide Web and combined the Student Opinion of Instruction Survey (SOIS) with additional questions that assessed…

This report represents the findings of the evaluation team that visited San Joaquin Delta College on March 25-28, 1996 for the purpose of validating the college's application for reaffirmation of accreditation. Overall, the team was impressed with the high level of quality inherent throughout the college. However, the team identified a number of…

Examines factors affecting productivity (government regulations, energy costs, decline in the work ethic, capital investment, number of service workers, work force characteristics, management practices, and unions), and techniques to improve productivity (employee involvement, job structure, communication, flexitime, employee upgrading, incentive…

Explains use of quality circles, a system of regular faculty meetings with students to discuss how a course is going, in law courses. Argues that quality circles give constructive criticism of teaching, let teachers counter criticisms and explain methods, help with diversity issues, offer a mechanism for criticizing students, and give students a…

Presents the results of the Association of American Medical Colleges' Working Group on Adapting to Resource Constraints, focusing on four areas: size of the academic enterprise, organizational models and their relationships to the clinical enterprise, faculty tenure and compensation, and partnerships with capital-intensive entities. Outlines…