Evaluation studies can provide feedback on implementation, support continuous improvement, and increase understanding of evaluation systems' impact on teaching and learning. Despite the importance of educator evaluation studies, states often need support to prioritize and fund them. Successful studies require expertise, time, and a shared…

Individual faculty and institutions regularly develop novel educational materials that could benefit others, but these innovations often fail to gain traction outside the developers' circle as barriers to adoption are numerous. We present evidence that development targeting adaptation, rather than complete adoption, of innovative materials and…

Using multiple years of data collected from about 100 child care centers in Palm Beach County, Florida, the authors studied whether the Quality Improvement System (QIS) made a significant impact on quality of child care centers. Based on a pre- and postresearch design spanning a period of 13 months, QIS appeared to be effective in improving…

In the past three years, Board of Governors' (BOG) staff, working in cooperation with university representatives, have continued to improve the data collection and reporting capabilities for the State University System. Simultaneously, Board staff have worked to lessen the reporting burden on the universities by reducing the number of data…

This chapter considers the design of incentive pay systems for teachers and principals and the challenges facing policy makers who seek to design them. The author argues that policy makers must direct the efforts of teachers and principals toward schools' mission--the acquisition of skills and knowledge among children--and must find ways to link…

This study investigated the use of a systems approach to prepare teachers in the use of behavioral objectives. The test group consisted of five male and seven female instructors from Webber College (Florida), a small 2-year institution that prepares women for business careers. An instructor should be able to identify the characteristics of both…

The authors discuss potential shortfalls of assistantships and internships in preparing students for practical career application of professional degrees and describe the benefits to overall development of courses eliciting performance in authentic scenarios. This article explores what is necessary, not only to teach, but also to learn, human…

The purpose of the project is to identify goals for vocational education in Florida through the year 2000 and to develop a system plan for achieving them. Project components are leadership and project coordination, staff development, a planning team, needs assessment surveys, futures research, an economic utility model, and dissemination and…

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND COMPUTER SIMULATION TECHNIQUES WERE APPLIED IN A STUDY OF INNOVATION FOR A 10TH-GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE. THE COURSE CONTENT WAS AMERICAN HISTORY WHICH WAS DIVIDED INTO 10 CONTENT AREAS SUCH AS COLONIAL, REVOLUNTIONARY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMERICAN. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COURSE INCLUDED TEAM TEACHING, LECTURES, MEDIA…

The process used in the design and evaluation of modules of instruction with the PLATO IV Computer System for stimulus display and response recording is described. Steps in the instructional design process are listed as problem identification and task analysis, identification of entry characteristics, development of performance objectives,…

A SERIES OF THREE CONFERENCES WAS HELD TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A LONG-RANGE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR AN UNGRADED, K-12 SCHOOL, BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CAMBRIDGE CONFERENCE ON SCHOOL MATHEMATICS. OVER 50 MATHEMATICIANS, MATHEMATICS EDUCATORS, AND PERSONS INVOLVED IN THEORETICAL AND APPLIED PSYCHOLOGICAL…

A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS WAS MADE OF A 10TH-GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE IN AMERICAN HISTORY TAUGHT AT THE NOVA HIGH SCHOOL, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, TO EVALUATE THE COURSE AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM. THE ANALYSIS WAS CONCERNED WITH SUCH PROBLEM AREAS AS TEACHER ROLES, THE EFFECTS OF MEDIA ON STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS, INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS, THE…

A project to assess needs of educable mentally retarded (EMR) children and adults in three Florida counties reports findings and recommendations. EMR population findings show that many of the 224 EMR students have language deficiencies, and that most cluster at 11 and 15 years of age; recommended are early intervention, language programs, and…

School counselors face identity crises since they must respond to the conflicting demands of students, faculty members, administrators, commercial and industrial interests, parents, and the local community. In order to defend themselves against public criticism, counselors must find a way of illustrating their effectiveness. Data obtained from an…

Reported in the manual are systems procedures to assess needs of educable mentally retarded (EMR) children and adults in three Florida counties in terms of EMR student and teacher assessment, EMR classroom programs, job opportunities, and services available, as a first step in developing a total curriculum. Described are the project's 3 year…