State education agencies are increasingly interested in developing and adopting through-course assessment models to meet statewide assessment and accountability requirements. However, because many of these systems are still under development, limited information about teacher perceptions of these administration models is available. We used focus…

Purpose: Teaching and unit evaluations surveys are used to assess the quality of teaching and the quality of the unit of study. An analysis of teaching and unit evaluation survey practices in Australian universities suggests significant changes. One key change discussed in the paper is the shift from voluntary to mandatory use of surveys with the…

The article briefly discusses how to calculate the worth of a training course through a detailed cost/benefit analysis. (BP)

Measuring the amount learned that is, the gain students make between pretests and posttests, is described as an aspect of a study to determine effective evaluation in higher education and is considered with respect to determination of course grades and educational standards. (JH)

Describes the development of courses at the University of Central Florida that are a mix of traditional classroom instruction and online courses. Discusses course assessment methods to help meet student needs; faculty incentives to participate in the assessment process; administrative support; and accountability. (LRW)

Some of the difficult problems related to introducing greater accountability for teaching were assessed and tentative policies considered at a British conference on higher education held in April 1975. R.C. Tress, Peter Kennedy, R. Rickett, Tom Driver, Marcus Merriman, and Alastair Stewart are the authors of the first set of papers entitled…

Relates why educators should embrace tests as tools for transforming teaching and learning. States that rigorous and meaningful testing can help ensure the academic achievement of all students. Further, useful education assessments must make clear what they measure, and they must measure what educators value most. (Contains six references.) (WFA)

Discusses two approaches for evaluating distance education. One collects six categories of evaluation information (measures): activity, efficiency, outcomes, program aims, policy, and organization. The other identifies key questions needed for effective evaluation and methods for determining outcomes in five areas: accountability, effectiveness,…

The amount of literature on program evaluation decreased in 1996, continuing a trend begun in the late 1980s. One exception to this is the literature on assessment. Another frequent issue is the technique of evaluation. Many examples of research on evaluation are from international settings, where accountability and evaluation appear to be…

The 1972-1973 issue of "Classroom Practices in Teaching English" focuses on the topic of the evaluation of student performance. The 42 articles and statements describe ways to measure reading, writing, and speaking. The writers are teachers in elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. About half of them are identified with…

This document describes the 1997-98 Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) Initiative at Spokane Community College (SCC) in Washington. The SLO mission is to define and integrate critical Student Learning Objectives and Abilities into college-wide, outcomes-based curricula so that students in all courses of study show understanding and proficiency in…

Faculty members' reactions to constructing and evaluating course portfolios were examined, and how that process might be improved was explored as part of an annual evaluation of teaching. Three college departments (sociology, accounting, and dental hygiene and assisting) volunteered to use portfolio review in the 1991-92 school year. In all, 22…

The National Assessment, a census-like study to collect information concerning the educational attainment of Americans, is being adapted in many states with the results of the adaptations being used for decision making by state agencies or by teachers and administrators. The characteristics of the adaptations follow patterns related to this…

As a consequence of the suspension of a system of yearly evaluations of individual courses with student questionnaires, the University of Leuven organised a broad consultation of the academic community focussing on what they expect from a system based on student feedback. The study revealed that this community attaches great importance to a clear…