Chapter 740 of the Public Acts of 1988 mandated that student needs assessments are to be conducted annually. Needs assessment may be defined as a process for idenitfying the gaps between educational goals (outcomes) established for students and students' actual performance. Whether goals and objectives are explicit or implicit, they play a…

This paper summarizes four reports that comprised a study of ways in which technical and further education (TAFE) curriculum research for curriculum development can be speeded up in the data collection and analysis phases. The reports are "TAFE Curriculum Research: A Review of Group Process Methods" (T. Anderson, N. Jones); "The…

Prepared for cooperative education placement and career service professionals, this paper considers the applications of microcomputers in the development of a comprehensive management information system (MIS) for cooperative education programs. After noting the complicated information needs of cooperative education and common weaknesses of current…

The need for information controls for college records management programs and the elements of program organization, planning, and management are discussed. Conditions at institutions that indicate a flaw in information control are identified, along with the benefits of a sound records management program. The management of an information and…

This report discusses an iterative methodology for logical database design (LDD). The methodology includes four phases: local information-flow modeling, global information-flow modeling, conceptual schema design, and external schema modeling. These phases are intended to make maximum use of available information and user expertise, including the…

In redesigning the data program of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there is a need for standard definitions, constant vigilance against redundancy and excessive data collection, audits and verification on local school data and continued attention to equity results as well as excellence and achievement. Major test scores, such…

A study investigated how managers in various kinds of organizations make decisions and also examined ways that using the Marble Company simulation (developed by L. C. Lederman and L. P. Stewart in 1985) could enhance, clarify, and extend its findings. Managers were asked to write down what they would say to their subordinates in order to elicit…

A framework for assessing the implementation and impact of office automation (OA) technology within shore-based facilities of the U.S. Navy is provided. Following a list of the assumptions guiding the evaluation plan, a model for data collection is presented which is based on the perspective of a work group, i.e., a small number of individuals who…

The purpose of this planning study about crafts in the United States is to provide preliminary data and information prior to a national crafts' survey by the National Endowment of the Arts. This study reports on: (1) the preparation of a systematic classification of U.S. crafts; (2) attempts to group and classify crafts people and their…

Most states pursue accountability in public education by collecting and reporting school data, but types of data collected, and how those data are reported and used in holding schools accountable, differ from state to state. This report is designed for state policymakers desiring to refine their existing accountability systems. The report's six…

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the utility of mark-sense readers in locally produced evaluations. The term mark-sense reader refers to a class of electronic devices that convert marks made on a paper sheet to electronic information by means of either electrical or optical sensing of the marks. The most common use of mark-sense readers has…

This paper deals with six sets of concerns and suggestions that arise as attitudes toward urban teaching are assessed. The first set arises from the complexity of measuring attitudes. It is strongly recommended that critiques of attitude data be based on plausible rival hypotheses. The second set involves the identification of beliefs related to a…

The purpose of this publication on agency training evaluation practices is to share approaches used by federal agencies to assess needs and measure training effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on the process of evaluation. Names of the agencies and highlights of the examples used by each follow: (1) Plant Protection and Quarantine (Department of…

This brochure describes the mission of National Assessment, the highlights of recent findings, and the procedures used in gathering the data. It also outlines how the project is administered and governed and projects a framework for the development of upcoming assessments. The booklet includes a number of charts and graphs depicting achievement…

Federal statistics form the foundation and are the standard for private statistics. Reliable and accurate statistics are increasingly used in complex models of the economy and society that have become important tools for management of large business concerns and for policy planning in governmental bodies. Reductions in government funding threaten…