The purpose of this research is to determine whether we can use classroom artifacts as the basis for making valid judgments about the presence of reform-oriented teaching practices in middle-school mathematics classes. Our approach compares ratings based on collections of artifacts assembled by teachers according to our directions (the "Scoop…

This volume describes the technical aspects of TIMSS 2003 and summarizes the main activities involved in the development of the data collection instruments, the data collection itself, and the analysis and reporting of the data. The thirteen chapters contained herein are: (1) Overview of TIMSS 2003 (Michael O. Martin and Ina V. S. Mullis); (2)…

A study focused on researchers' use of the English-Language Background Questionnaire (EBQ) portion of the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), the results of which were released in 1993. Data were gathered by surveying NALS data users about how they have used the EBQ data, their perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the EBQ, and their…

Within the past few years there has been a very remarkable increase in public school extension and the wider use of school buildings and equipment. This extension work has taken many forms, all of which, however, are intended to be supplementary to the regular school work. In order that records of this work may be kept and that teachers, school…

The National Workplace Literacy Program (NWLP) was a federal grant program that was initiated in 1988 to promote the following: contextualized, job-specific instruction in basic skills; joint governance through partnerships between employers, education providers, and employee organizations; and attention to individual workers' needs. The NWLP's…

The Computers in Education (Comped) study was designed as a two-stage survey. The first stage (1987-1990) was aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of schools at elementary, lower secondary and upper secondary level with regard to the state of computer use in education. The survey's focus was on the extent and availability of…

A study examined the literacy needs and activities of prison inmates in Australia. To gather data for the study, the researchers interviewed and administered questionnaires to 62 inmates from five Australian prisons. This report consists primarily of the comments and views of the individual prisoners who were clients, potential clients, and…

The goals of this manual are to raise the level of safety, environmental awareness, and quality in outdoor adventure education, and to encourage the development of skilled, knowledgeable outdoor leaders through the compilation and dissemination of common practices and information. Other goals are to provide information for programs to use as a…

This handbook consists of guidelines and sample materials for use by individuals who want to learn how to identify nontraditional role models, implement a linkage conference for vocational educators and nontraditional workers, and help nontraditional workers serve as role models for students in vocational programs. The first part of the guide,…

This first in a series of six learning modules on instructional planning is designed to assist secondary and postsecondary vocational teachers in becoming familiar with the variety of techniques that can be used to determine their students' needs and interests (particularly vocational), and to give practice in using these skills to obtain…

This tenth in a series of eleven learning modules on program planning, development, and evaluation is designed to acquaint secondary and postsecondary vocational teachers with student follow-up procedures and help them to develop skill in planning and conducting a student follow-up study. Introductory sections relate the competencies dealt with…

A study done for the National Community Education Advisory Council to assess programs funded under the Community Schools Act is presented in an introduction and three parts. Study goals, as defined in the introduction, are to describe the organization and operation of community education projects of local educational agencies, state educational…

Research and instructional role strains are identified, based on the use of large-scale mail surveys for college self-study that are used to teach introductory research methodology. The two organizational hierarchies, the research model and the instructional model, are examined. Experiences at Northwestern University, Northeastern Illinois…

This invitational conference was convened to report the principal findings of a six-year study of possible sources of bias in the prediction of job performance. The research was conducted jointly by Educational Testing Service and the U.S. Civil Service Commission, supported by the Ford Foundation. Data were gathered on test and job performance of…

This guide, which is intended for volunteer literacy programs in Alberta, Canada, details a four-step process for evaluating volunteer literacy programs and using evaluation results for program development. The guide begins with an introduction, underlying principles and assumptions, and a glossary. Sections 1-4 detail the steps of the process,…