This rise in the use of social networks presents new ethical, legal, and professional challenges for educators. Pre-service teachers need professional development to be cognizant of the content they are posting to personal social networks. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to develop professional development guidelines to help…

School leaders are critical in the lives of students and to the development of their teachers. Unfortunately, in too many instances, principals are effective in spite of--rather than because of--district conditions. To truly improve student achievement for all students across the country, well-prepared principals need the tools, support, and…

This toolkit is designed to help community schools evaluate their efforts so that they learn from their successes, identify current challenges, and plan future efforts. It provides a step-by-step process for planning and conducting an evaluation at your community school site(s). The toolkit is a practical, hands-on guide that makes it possible for…

This resource guide and the appendices are intended to help boards of trustees design a self-evaluation process that meets specific board needs and cultures. The information should help boards determine the approach they will use, which criteria will provide the best information for the board, who will be asked to evaluate the board, and how the…

The popularity of sample surveys in evaluation and research makes it necessary for consumers to tell a good survey from a poor one. Several sources were identified that gave advice on how to evaluate a sample design used in a survey study. The sources are either too limited or too extensive to be useful practically. The purpose of this paper is to…

This paper helps researchers develop criteria for conducting surveys. Cost considerations frame the paper's suggestions. Specifically, the text advises that researchers consider the human and material resources needed, type of survey instrument, medium for conducting the survey (mail, telephone, personal interview, etc.), data analysis…

To help schools and districts in their efforts to create more productive and effective learning environments, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) researchers developed the School Practices Survey, a tool districts and schools can use to assess teachers, administrators, and others in the school community regarding their…

Situations in which mailed questionnaires are most appropriate are identified. Population variables, characteristics of questionnaires, and social desirability variables are examined in depth. (Author)

The article describes considerations in modifying school buildings for maximum accessibility for severely handicapped students. A field tested survey designed for use by school administrators is also included in its entirety. (Author)

This paper discusses ways to evaluate processes, describes methods of gathering information, and presents an outline for developing a continuous improvement model. Such assessment tools, as opposed to traditional "satisfaction surveys," can examine the service process and provide institutions with useful information to use as a catalyst for change…

As part of a high-risk youth grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Southwest Regional Laboratory developed and implemented a survey of alcohol sales establishments. The purpose was to assess the availability of alcohol in the community and changes in availability over time that may have an impact on findings related to project…

This guide for pupil personnel administrators, provides procedures, timelines, resources, and sample statistical tables for conducting a needs assessment to meet the Illinois State Board of Education requirement. Basic recommendation procedures for conducting a pupil personnel services (PPS) needs assessment are identified as follows: (1) organize…

Validation studies, placement-enrollment comparisons, student surveys, and instructor interviews are discussed as operational methods in a synthesizing approach to undergraduate course placement evaluation. A range of suggested questions is coupled with various data sources in placement evaluation schemes and system procedures. (CM)

Discusses the responses of 303 teaching assistants and faculty about their attitudes toward TA training. While respondents agreed that training should be practical, the concerns of native speakers differed from those of nonnatives, and the views of experienced faculty differed from those of younger respondents. (EKN)

Discussion of performance evaluations for administrators focuses on evaluations for library directors. The frequency of evaluations is discussed; reasons to evaluate are described, including identifying areas where improvement is needed and to assist in personal and professional development; evaluation committees are explained; and suggestions for…