This text introduces the concepts of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and shows how they can be used in the classroom. A quality classroom is defined as one in which everyone in the class knows the objectives of the class and adopts a quality philosophy to continuously improve the work done to meet those objectives. The general principles and…

This manual presents 15 Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) tools and techniques necessary for effective teaching. By using the tools and techniques of CQI, teachers will be able to help themselves and their students to focus on the classroom processes. This will permit the teacher and students to plan, organize, implement, and make decisions…

This study explored the portfolio evaluation process from the perspectives of teachers using portfolios to evaluate their students and teachers using portfolios of their own to evaluate their teaching. Two university professors, one elementary school teacher, and one secondary school teacher participated, using qualitative research methods.…

This paper is concerned with defining evaluation as a domain in instructional technology, and with specifying the sub-areas of the domain. In education, evaluation is the process of determining the adequacy of instruction. It begins with problem analysis, which refers to determining the nature of the solution and the parameters of the problem. A…

This document reports the findings of a process evaluation of the Saginaw, Michigan Early Childhood Education Preschool program for 4-year-olds at risk of academic failure. As of December, 1992, a total of 279 pupils were attending the program at 8 sites. The goal of the program is to enable 4-year-olds to develop school readiness skills. Program…

An evaluation was conducted to provide formative information about the pilot implementation of year-round education in three 3 Monday In Orange County, the 180-day calendar was divided into three Monday through Friday 12-week sessions separated by 3-week breaks. A multitrack design (five tracks of students, with four in school at any one time) was…

To begin to implement a multimedia teaching and learning component in the teacher education curriculum of the University of Wyoming (Laramie), a pilot study was conducted in the summer of 1992 to attempt to identify teaching and learning issues related to computer-enhanced multimedia instructional platforms. Subjects were seven middle school or…

The Dade County (Florida) Public School System is replacing its Teacher Assessment and Development System (TADS), initiated in 1982, with systems that draw on recent research, link teaching skills to school improvement, and recognize and reward advanced pedagogy. The comprehensive approach will integrate subordinate and peer assessment through a…

This paper describes the process used to design and evaluate a computer-based tool that guides the development of lesson plans. The tool, PLANalyst, contains a small expert system with a human face that analyzes lessons and gives specific feedback for improvement. The process used to create PLANalyst can be generalized to the development of tools…

This document reports the findings of a process evaluation of the Saginaw, Michigan Early Childhood Education Preschool program for 4-year-olds at risk of academic failure. As of January, 1992, a total of 292 pupils were attending the program at 9 sites. The goal of the program is to enable 4-year-olds to develop school readiness skills. Program…

The changes in teaching, learning, and assessment brought about by the introduction of the National Certificate in Scotland were assessed. Data were collected through interviews with and a survey of 511 teaching staff (398 responses) and 1,646 students (1,277 responses) in a number of colleges throughout Scotland and a survey of 344 employers (68…

This document includes four papers presented at a symposium, based on a synthesis of five years of research--on the interaction of role groups and factors in the change process that are critical for school improvement in elementary and secondary schools. The papers identify elements of the change process crucial for the success of proposed changes…

This study addresses four questions: (1) What types of performance appraisal policy for educational staff have been adopted by Ontario school boards? (2) To what extent have these policies been implemented in practice? (3) What types of appraisal policies are most effective? and (4) What processes have school boards used to develop and implement…

This report, the fourth and final volume of a series, examines in a summary fashion the results from a massive study of performance appraisal policies and procedures currently used in Ontario school boards. The study, a two-year undertaking, focused on appraisal practices for certified educational personnel in Ontario: teachers, principals,…

The Multilevel Evaluation Systems project was field tested in grades 4 and 5 classrooms in five districts of the University of Pennsylvania's School Council. Multilevel evaluation coordinates multiple sources of information (about student characteristics, school context, school and instructional processes, and a range of student outcomes) with…