Notes that technical writing instruction often operates in isolation from other components of students' communication education. Argues for altering this isolation by moving writing instruction to a place of increased programmatic perspective, which may be attained through a means of assessment based on educational outcomes. Discusses two models…

Discusses defining value added as return on investment. Addresses finding ways to measure value added and working with measures of value added. Looks at literature from other professions. Discusses a case study illustrating problems. (RS)

Teachers often test course materials by using them in class. Usability testing provides an alternative: teachers receive student feedback and revise materials "before" teaching a class. Case studies based on interviews and observations with two teaching assistants who usability tested materials before teaching introductory technical writing…

This article guides the reader through the actual, step-by-step process of preparing the web-based NASPE/NCATE program report. The following five sections are discussed in detail: (1) contextual information; (2) assessments and related data; (3) standards assessment chart; (4) evidence for meeting standards; and (5) use of assessment results to…

MARC (Methodical Assessment of Reports by Computer) is a report-marking program which enables teachers to provide individualized feedback on reports written by engineering students. The MARC system is objective in its consistent application of the same programed criteria, but also allows individual markers to supply their own comments as required.…

This article describes the possibilities offered by the online assessment system Etude to achieve the benefits of formative assessment. In order to find out the way this works in practice, we carried out an experiment with the use of Etude for formative assessment in the course on collaborative report writing. Results show that online formative…

Many components are necessary in order to successfully compile a NASPE/NCATE beginning teacher standards report, including a tremendous amount of hard work, time, and patience. It is also imperative that report compilers have sufficient institutional resources and a well-planned strategy for report-writing success. Typically, the faculty member…

This thesis charts the development of a reference guide to searchable fields in the ERIC online database including identifying a target audience, planning and preparation of drafts, testing drafts with experienced online searchers and students, incorporating suggestions, and preparing and distributing the final version of the guide. The thesis…

Until the recent introduction of a dynamic interview-based process, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Canadian development research funding agency, faced a challenge: project completion reports (PCRs) were not being completed in a timely and quality manner. This is a common problem many organizations face in completing…

School nurses need to become more influential administrators, managers, and entrepreneurs. They must learn to lead and collaborate effectively in designing, implementing, and evaluating coordinated school health programs. Quality assurance is an essential ingredient in this process that requires accurate, timely, and confidential incident…

Estimates indicate that as much as 80% of an engineer's work time is spent on communicating. Studies done by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Arizona show that engineering firms, as well as ECE graduates, rank writing ability as the most important skill in determining engineers' success, even above…

Take a walk down Memory Lane... In 1940 when AACRAO's new release "The Work of the Registrar" was written: Yale tuition was fifty dollars per quarter; colleges had curfews for women and dress codes; the average salary was $1,299 annually; first class stamps were three cents; and colleges sent progress reports home to parents. Read about what has…

This article describes a train-the-trainers course that provided training in sound instructional strategies to 10 assistive technology specialists who work with people who are visually impaired. Topics included conducting assessments, writing training proposals, developing the curriculum, planning lessons, and analyzing learning styles. All…