Investigated was the effectiveness of interventions designed to mediate the negative influence of ascription on the scientific talent pool. Findings related to the effectiveness of tutoring, career counseling, exposure to research and to role models, and after school programs reinforce the importance of prerequisites for increasing minority…

Discusses the following aspects of educational evaluation: (1) structural changes; (2) conceptual changes; (3) mixed methods and unraveling consensus; (4) utilization of findings; (5) the role of values; and (6) the role of politics. Discusses how evaluation moved from monolithic to pluralistic, reflecting the change from consensus to pluralism in…

Points out the need for research concerning the effects of media and popular culture on behavior, the current approaches to media education, and the identification of media literacy skills. Lists concerns of teachers about copyrights, suitable resources, staff training, evaluation practices, and curriculum design when teaching media literacy. (KO)

The process of developing program evaluation models for Florida International University's college of education is described. One lesson learned was that a combination of macro- and microlevel planning is necessary for purposeful evaluation. A grid to aid decision making is also presented. (Author/MSE)

Reports on a project evaluating home-study foreign-language courses for beginners. The languages evaluated were French, Spanish, and German. Findings indicate that any one course in a series reflects all the courses in that series, seven of the eight courses were inspired by one method, and tapes were a vital component of all the series except…

This discussion of assistive technology (AT) provides case studies, a definition of AT, and consideration of its benefits and challenges. The Assistive Technology Project, a two-year qualitative study, looked at AT evaluation, funding and acquisition, training, daily use, factors affecting implementation, and demands on school personnel. (DB)

A committee of major education partners in Saskatchewan developed a curriculum evaluation program to monitor the effectiveness of new provincial curricula. The program recommends gathering data from students, teachers, and school administrators. Assessment strategies include qualitative and quantitative information collected in a variety of ways.…

The American Optometric Association's current review of procedures for accrediting optometric residencies is discussed. Reasons for the review (projected growth of programs and revised standards) are discussed, procedures currently in place for accrediting programs in osteopathy, dentistry, pharmacy, podiatry, and optometry are summarized; and…

Argues that assessment, evaluation, and reporting are intrinsically linked, and together form a cycle that provides information about individual students, the instructor, the course of study, and the educational environment. Offers educators a list of principles concerning assessment, evaluation, and reporting that challenges many current…

Examines critical features of the QUASAR Project, a mathematics instruction program oriented toward helping students develop a meaningful understanding of mathematical ideas through challenging mathematical tasks, and discusses findings regarding the positive impact it has had on students. Challenges and obstacles in implementing the project are…

The development of computer application practices integrated into a science teachers' professional development program was examined. Results from a workshop for 14 teachers demonstrated that, although computer applications were not explicitly taught, the integration of their use into the goal-oriented environment resulted in an optimal solution…

Protocols for evaluating programs in Quebec universities are described. The evolution of the system is reviewed, and policies and procedures for assessing both new and existing programs, both internally and externally, are outlined. (MSE)

An explanation of the periodic evaluation of Laval University (Canada) programs begins with an outline of the university's organizational structure and administrative bodies. The justification, objectives, and scope of the evaluation policy are then described, and some benefits and problems are discussed. (MSE)

First, the role of the association of universities in the Netherlands in external institutional evaluation is examined. Then, three basic tenets of program assessment are discussed: (1) university programs must be of academic quality; (2) program content must not be too compressed; and (3) programs should be challenging for students. (MSE)

The assessment team approach used at Kishwaukee College in Malta, Illinois, is based on continuous quality improvement. It features cross-college representation, individual program goals, course-embedded assessment measures, and a variety of tools such as standardized tests and student portfolios. (JOW)