The task of defining learning disabilities is complex since there are so many variables operating to cause the failure. Learning disabled (LD) children comprise between 2 percent and 20 percent of the Canadian school population. Severely LD children account for only about 1 percent to 2 percent of the school population. (PHR)

Traces the history of the reading assessments conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), discusses the objectives and importance of the 1979-80 reading assessment, and notes the need for professional organizations such as the International Reading Association to develop proposals dealing with research questions raised by…

Evaluates issues of major educational purpose in American society at various times throughout history with emphasis on the recent shift from "equality of educational opportunity" to "equity in education." Explains how educational research can more effectively deal with these issues. (DB)

Comments on the results of the second mathematics assessment done by National Assessment of Educational Progress by the president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. A "critical need for attention to higher-order cognitive skills" is pointed out. (MK) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document:…

How to define quality and how to improve and clarify present standards of judgment and assessment in education are discussed. Three forms of external program review are identified: regional accreditation, professional society accreditation, and state agency evaluation. Quality is seen as representing the level of attainment of appropriate goals.…

Illustrates a variety of justifications for teacher selection and suggests that the only valid one is to find men and women who are likely to serve learners best. (DB)

Presents a case study of the construction of a social university, based on nine years' experience of the adult education courses at the University of Florence, Italy. A social university is defined as a university which encourages students to learn by various forms of communication, including seeking information and recreational activities in…

Explains how psychology teachers at the University of Georgia designed preliminary examinations in the psychology graduate program to demonstrate research skills. The prelims centered around choosing, analyzing, and elaborating three research problems. (DB)

Evaluation is discussed as a trade. An evaluator must be able to function as tradesman, conductor, and interpreter. A typical evaluation task is defined, skills required by the evaluator are listed, and key questions used in evaluation are discussed. (Author/JN)

Evaluation techniques and practices do not belong to a particular theory of justice. Systems analysis evaluation consists of defining quantitative outcome measures of program success and the establishment of causal links between this measure and the program by experimental design. (JN)

Teachers need valid information to judge the types of programs, instruction, and colleges best suited to students. Teachers appear to support the use of standardized tests to provides some of that information. Abolishing such tests may lead to dependence on more subjective measures, resulting in inequities in placement and selection. (FG)

A pilot research program to measure the academic qualities of undergraduate colleges has been announced by the Higher Education Research Institute of Los Angeles and the Council on Learning. The study will include a literature review, measures of institutional popularity among students, and reputational ratings of undergraduate departments. (JMD)

Maintains that schools are political as well as educational institutions because they control selection of what is taught, in what context, by whom, and for what purposes. Investigates perceptions of political restraint among preservice teachers based on their student teaching experiences. (Author/DB)

Highlights are given of the results of the second mathematics assessment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), for 13 and 17 year olds, in the areas of number, algebra, geometry, measurement, and other miscellaneous topics. Changes from the previous assessment and conclusions are also included. (MK) Aspect of National…

Surveys changes in education in Nigeria after independence. Major changes involve objectives--students are educated now to become citizens of a young and growing country rather than individuals colonized by a nation with a different culture and religion. Emphasis is placed on social studies, particularly citizenship education. (Author/DB)