This document summarizes an extensive study of policies and practices in adult literacy and adult basic education in a number of countries undertaken by Rosa McKenna and Lynne Fitzpatrick. The original study contains considerably greater detail and analyses issues on a country-by-country basis. The countries studied--Canada, the Republic of…

This "IssueTrak" discusses an increasing interest in verifying the installation and performance of building systems prior to delivery and final acceptance by the building owner. This interest in quality assurance has spawned a new and distinct professional construction discipline referred to as building commissioning. The principal objective of…

In 2005, Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education initiated a comprehensive exercise to establish a new vision for the province's advanced education system. Through the "A Learning Alberta" initiative, a revised vision and new policy outcomes for Alberta's advanced education system will be articulated. The "A Learning Alberta"…

In computerized adaptive testing, updating item parameter estimates using adaptive testing data is often called online calibration. This study investigated how to evaluate whether the adaptive testing data used for online calibration sufficiently fit the item response model used. Three approaches were investigated, based on a Lagrange multiplier…

This paper discusses the importance of documentation and records in the administration of a engineering program. The new trends in academic program evaluation for accreditation indicate an ever increasing role of documented procedures and systematic data collection and reporting to support curriculum reform. The paper also recommends a…

As the automated scoring of constructed responses reaches operational status, the issue of monitoring the scoring process becomes a primary concern, particularly when the goal is to have automated scoring operate completely unassisted by humans. Using a vignette from the Architectural Registration Examination and data for 326 cases with both human…

Through the implementation of the Word Processing/Administrative Support Movement, the use of production and quality controls, together with the development of a performance measurement system using MTM-Standard Data, secretarial performance can be increased to up to ten times that of the traditional seccretary. (KP)

Reviewed are accomplishments, problems, and frustrations faced by individual states in meeting requirements of P.L. 92-500, Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. State Environmental officials complain the new law may be a hindrance to established cleanup programs. Statistics and charts are given. (BL)

This feature article outlines the concept and procedures followed in establishing performance standards for new emission sources and summarizes the standards that have been established to date. Five source catagories are enumerated: fossil fuel-fired steam generators, municipal incinerators, Portland cement plants, nitric acid plants, and sulfuric…

The Implementation Research Division has been formed to carry out an interdisciplinary multimedia program of studies to help the Environmental Protection Agency implement its environmental protection responsibilities. It is attempting to come up with convincing facts so that the general public can be assured that the costs they are being asked to…

A sample of environmental impact statements required by federal law discloses that all actions proceeded essentially unchanged, despite adverse comments and predictions of environmental degradation. However, the process allows for public scrutiny and pressure which may eventually increase the likelihood of meaningful environmental safeguards. (BL)

Suggests ways to minimize the risk of training failure and ensure that training accomplishes its objectives. Explains key differences to be learned in order to use the appropirate method of applying quality assurance and quality control. Examines five quality factors to be measured, including pre- and post-training testing devices. (CT)

A questionnaire was sent to 446 members of OCLC to ascertain their views on the development of a special minimal standard to be used only for the conversion of retrospective cataloging records to machine-readable form. It was found that 74.5 percent would oppose the creation of a new lower standard. (Author)