This chapter proposes approaches for assessing learners and evaluating courses and curriculum that could be used by directors of health professions education (HPE) programs to determine the effectiveness and impact of their programs.

The purpose of this paper was to provide information about the virtual learning environment known as PGDnet (the Spanish acronym for "Plataforma de Gestion Docente" or Educational Management Platform in English), which was developed by the innovative education group at the Technical University of Madrid known as "Nuevas metodologias…

As educators, we have two missions. First, we must serve our students--they are both our customer and our product. Second, we aim to provide the market in general with graduates with relevant skills and knowledge for jobs that have not even been created yet. Given that most students graduating and moving into the workplace are not necessarily…

In October 1984 the teaching of anatomy at Sheffield University Medical School was radically changed. Described are the background for the changes, aims, teaching methods, courses, support materials, student assessment, and course evaluation. (Author/RH)

A program designed for the achievement of equal educational opportunity in Connecticut's Middletown public schools is presented in this report. The document describes the program's statement of goals, identification of objectives, specification of expected levels of competency for each subject area at each grade and ability level, adoption of…

In winter of 2004, the Sociology Department at California State University-Bakersfield (CSUB) conducted a student assessment using an embedded assessment technique--a technique wherein a class assignment serves as an assessment tool. The authors conducted the embedded assessment for their Five-Year Program Review. Thus, similar to many…

The Life Skills course of Saskatchewan NewStart uses concepts and techniques from education, social work, and behavior sciences to develop new types of programs which stress personal competence in dealing with problems. This book describes the Life Skills course and gives examples of how problem solving skills are taught. Other chapters deal with…

A variety of general education programs and evaluation approaches are described, with a focus on assessments of student attitudes and achievement. The introductory essay by Jerry G. Gaff, "A Practical Approach to Evaluation," presents a three-step evaluation approach, as well as suggestions for general education program directors, deans,…

A two part experimental introductory college economics course is described. Data on the combination macroeconomics and microeconomics course have been collected over eight consecutive terms and are presented in nine chapters. Chapter I describes course goals as stimulation of student interest, teaching a few basic economic principles, helping…

Driven by advances in instructional technologies, the processes of teaching and learning have come under new scrutiny in recent years. Some have called for renewed interest among faculty in the "scholarship of teaching", whereby a portion of their time goes to assessing their pedagogical styles and seeking technology-enhanced…

Describes the University of Florida medical school's curriculum-development efforts, including introduction of early clinical experience in primary-care settings, enhancement of small-group active learning, development of computer-based interactive materials, increased clinical teaching in ambulatory care, effective course and faculty evaluation,…