The progress of students and schools in California is examined by reviewing the state's recent test history and the state's progress in creating a sound, standards-based assessment system. The story about California is mixed. Overall performance on the Stanford Achievement Test, ninth edition (SAT-9) shows that the state average, overall grades…

This paper explores the ideas and the model underlying the evaluation of the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow project (ACOT), a 2-year-old research and development project incorporating at least seven different grade levels which is located in five different school sites in four states. The major features of ACOT are identified as the ideas of computer…

The inability of students to become proficient in algebra seems to be widespread in American schools. One of the reasons often cited for this inability is that instruction seldom builds on prior knowledge. Research suggests that teacher effectiveness is the most critical controllable variable in improving student achievement. This report details a…

The Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT) program was designed to study what happens when "tomorrow's" educational resources, such as individual computer support, are available in the classroom. Student achievement and attitudes were evaluated at five elementary school and secondary school sites located in four states and encompassing…

The state of the art of student outcome measurement is in flux. (MM)

A plan for evaluating the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT) is presented, which implements the model for Sensible Technology Assessment/Research (STAR). STAR involves interactive participation in the evaluation study by ACOT participants, collateral university researchers, and University of California (Los Angeles) staff to develop a credible,…

This paper is concerned with objectives-based evaluation and alternative ways in which a system of objectives and test items might contribute to school programs. In the first study, teachers, parents, and students were involved in the needs assessment phase of educational evaluation with the use of behavioral objectives. All three were first asked…

This report discusses in detail the 1988-89 evaluation study developed by the University of California at Los Angeles Center for Technology Assessment and the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow (ACOT) administration for the purpose of determining the impact of the ACOT project on students, teachers, and parents. Both student achievement in writing and…

The relationship of diverse instructional materials with student performance indicators is studied in a statewide evaluation of educational reform. Observation and teacher survey data were collected, and students were tested in reading, mathematics, and attitudinal areas. Significant performance decrements were associated with the use of diverse…