This fifth and last of a series evaluating academic rankings research reviews 63 books and articles published from January 1986 to October 1989. General discussions and discussions of college guides, specific subjects, international education, and rankings research methodology are included. (EAM)

The "Program Evaluation Standards" supplies a useful framework for generating questions to raise about any evaluation plan or evaluation report to assess its pros and cons. It is a valuable "how-to" for graduate students and professionals. This second edition incorporates changes in the field in the last decade. (SLD)

Reviews 1993 book by Marybeth Kravets and Imy F. Wax. Describes text as comprehensive and accurate. Suggests utility for counselors, parents, and students. States that guide's most valuable resource is state-by-state comprehensive listing and evaluation of every program for learning-disabled individuals in the United States and Canada. (CRR)

A strength of this exploration of testing and test use in the United States is the concern for how tests affect student conceptions of learning and student relation to knowledge. A weakness is a persistent confounding of classroom and large-scale assessment for state and national purposes. (SLD)

"Assessing Student Performance" sets forth arguments for looking at testing and assessment. The exploration is more about morality and epistemology than about technology and politics. A principal assumption is that mainstream assessment and testing philosophy is flawed. (SLD)

Describes the Association of Research Libraries Geographic Information System (GIS) Literacy Project and the experiences of several libraries involved in electronic mapping. An in-depth description of the University of Connecticut's map library is provided. Sidebars include information about GIS business applications and sources of products…

The case-study method used in "Understanding Graduate Women's Reentry Experiences" yielded personal information of considerable depth, but the conclusions drawn from the study are not all that different from those drawn from more quantitative investigations. Suggests that a multimethod approach is the best research strategy. (SLD)

Describes the 14 winners of the 1989 EDUCOM/NCRIPTAL (National Center for Research to Improve Postsecondary Teaching and Learning) Higher Education Software Awards. Highlights include curriculum innovation, collaborative programs on computer networks, interactive video, hypermedia, an increase in humanities participation, and general trends in…

Draws attention to some of the unexamined assumptions on which W. Bowen and D. Bok base their analysis and considers some of the unintended, and often undesired, consequences of racial preferences in college admissions. (SLD)

This paper contains the grant proposal and final report for a project conducted by the California State University at Northridge library to demonstrate online database searching and introduce the use of bibliographic management software to faculty and graduate students. Day-long, discipline-oriented seminars were planned to increase the…

Discusses the growing use of telecommunications in the classroom and lists 30 projects and networks currently available to educators. Highlights include general online services; databases; news services; local area projects; worldwide projects; electronic mail projects, including AT&T's Long Distance Learning Network (LDLN); and networks for…

Evaluates the effectiveness of the Sack-Yourman Developmental Speed Reading Course software program designed to increase reading rate and comprehension. Finds the software program effective in allowing students to quickly move from "chore" operations and didactic sections to "real" reading. Offers specific recommendations for…

Described is a laboratory interface system including hardware, software, and student activities. Student use of this system is reviewed stressing experimental design skills and student-designed experiments. (CW)

Based on personal experience rather than empirical evidence, "Forked Tongue" presents a biased view that could damage the future of bilingual education in the United States. The book considers bilingual education a threat because it prolongs the learning of English and promotes the maintenance of other "un-American" languages…

Reviews for three software packages are given. The packages are: Super Math Package, a collection of 19 programs on a variety of mathematical topics; Interactive Experiments in Calculus; and Introductory Statistics Software Package. (PK)