Reports on a study using two alternatives for evaluating the quality of teaching and courses in an undergraduate engineering program. Results indicate that the relationship between a global problem and individual questions is highly correlated. (TW)

The study examined effects of a self-instructional training package on the job-task sequencing, task completion, and unnecessary task repetition of four mentally retarded females (ages 18-20) employed as housekeeping and food service trainees in a hospital. Among results were increased job-task sequencing and decreased task repetition for all…

A study compared the characteristics, job performance, and employment/career patterns of graduates of baccalaureate and doctoral nursing programs one year after graduation and found significant differences in the groups on each set of variables. (MSE)

Simulated patients can standardize the presentation of a patient problem, and, if the patients are employed in an assessment, the assessment can have an objectivity similar to that of written tests. The results and feasibility of using simulated patients in an assessment are described. (Author/MLW)

During sight word acquisition lessons, 11 mildly handicapped children, aged 6 to 11, were compared on questioning techniques--individual ordered questioning, or questioning requiring unison responding. Children learned the words taught with unison responding at a faster rate than the other words, though the difference was not great. (Author/JDD)

The present study addressed the validity of student ratings of instructional effectiveness by exploring the relations among student ratings, course performance, and the perceived attitude similarity of students and their instructors. Findings fail to support the claim that perceived attitude similarity is a substantial source of bias in student…

Presents information on the perceptions of students (from third, seventh, and eleventh grade) and young adults concerning science classes, their science teachers, and the value of science content. Includes data from the Third Assessment of Science (1977), National Science Supervisors Association Study (1982), and National Science Teacher…

The long-term effectiveness of a course for residents on how to teach students, patients, and peers was examined. Three types of evaluation data were collected: self-ratings by the residents, questionnaires completed by the residents, and ratings completed by students taught by the residents. (MLW)

State legislative action to control and reward teaching quality has resulted in the coming of age of systematic teacher performance evaluation for certification, merit pay, or career ladder advancement decisions. This article overviews issues of credibility and practicality--including test design, validity, and reliability--which arise when…

Presents results of a study of low-socioeconomic status grade 7 students which examined why some achieve and others do not. Focuses on which differences in self-attitudes (locus of control) and cognitive processing (field dependence) existed between the achiever and non-achiever, and whether these differences are related to achievement. (KH)

Problem areas with the curriculum at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Rutgers Medical School were identified: imbalance in class hours in the academic schedule, excessive number of lectures, and need for more small group sessions during the basic science education. (MLW)

A comparison of college faculty self-evaluation and evaluation by students at the University of Queensland, and the effect of student evaluations on instruction, found wide discrepancies between student and teacher perceptions of instruction for both highly and poorly rated teachers, but general positive faculty attitudes about evaluation and…

To probe the association of reading achievement with factors in learning, the scores of 2,890 13-year-old students from a National Assessment of Educational Progress sample were regressed on 24 indexes of the factors, singly and as a set. Achievement showed diminishing or eventually negative returns to eight time variables. (Author/BS)

Reviews recent trends in the development and implementation of performance-based incentive programs for teachers and administrators. Looks at program control, administrator and teacher involvement, time frames used, criteria for career advancement, evaluation methods employed, effects of funding on implementation, and program evaluation. Considers…

For a class project students in an industrial/organizational psychology course had to construct a performance appraisal instrument for assessing the instructor's performance. Evaluations revealed that students found the exercise useful. (RM)