The amount of literature on program evaluation decreased in 1996, continuing a trend begun in the late 1980s. One exception to this is the literature on assessment. Another frequent issue is the technique of evaluation. Many examples of research on evaluation are from international settings, where accountability and evaluation appear to be…

In response to growing numbers of undeclared majors, a course was developed that included career exploration and planning, study skills, departmental presentations, a career interview, and examination of personal values, interests, and abilities. Results included increased declaration of majors and increased retention among those taking the…

Outlines the development and evaluation of 2-day courses to improve lecturing methods in English universities, based upon surveys of lecturers' and students' views of university teaching methods. Results of the surveys are reported, as are ways in which techniques of structuring and presenting lectures are being improved. (EAO)

The link between inservice and training for teachers (INSET) and curriculum innovation was explored in this British study. Elementary school teachers rated elements of an inservice course according to utility and interest, and later reported the extent of their actual curriculum innovation. Their opinions about the course and their subsequent…

The authors describe their positive experience in collaboration--the development and provision of an eight-week summer clinical practicum that allows nursing students to practice in the hospital daily with a faculty person. (Author/CT)

Describes a two-semester course held at a French college for a group of Saudi student technicians with the objective of providing both general communication skills in the French language and technical skills. Discusses evaluation instruments, including systematic interviews with students, and their impact on the learning rate. (MES)

In this study, generalizability theory is used to examine the dependability of student rating data for making judgments about courses and instruction. The importance of giving adequate attention to the specification of the universe of admissible observations in generalizability theory is discussed. (Author/CTM)

The Michael's Group Remediation System was utilized in teaching a course dealing with the optics of the eye. The system features instructor pacing, written study objectives and content materials, weekly quizzes, and remediation. This mode of presentation was judged by instructor and students as being extremely successful. (Author/JMD)

A description is presented of the construction and use of a questionnaire for evaluating freshman science courses. It uses a forced choice technique to measure student expectations, influence on students, and faculty objectives. Field tests are used to estimate the procedure's validity and reliability. (Author/MSE)

Different instructions accompanied faculty/course evaluation questionnaires distributed in university courses (stratified by level and size). Instructions differed in information conveyed about use and disposition of results. Instructions containing information about administrative or course improvement use produced higher ratings than those given…

A survey to determine the use of student ratings of instruction in medical education is reported. Results indicate that student ratings are widely used, that both standardized and nonstandardized forms are used, that ratings are often administered exclusively by one agent, and that administrators often have access to results. (JMD)

A procedure for course evaluation at Britain's Open University is described. Justification for obtaining feedback from students, audiences for the data, and intended uses in the maintenance of courses are outlined. (JMF)

The first stage of an evaluation and academic management project to be carried out at Bath University is presented. Included are the background to course evaluation, a proposed model, the development and testing of the model in the context of an innovative biology course at Queen's University, and the transferability of the model to other courses.…

North Country Community College (New York) implemented a model of general education specifying competencies to be achieved in liberal arts courses. Introductory psychology students were pre- and posttested on competencies of knowledge (objective and subjective), critical thinking, and writing, using an objective test and essay. Significant gains…

One teacher's method of obtaining useful feedback from students in large lecture classes involves creation of a small committee of students, mirroring the class' diversity, that receives input from students on all course aspects, meets with the teacher to discuss and make recommendations, provides feedback on progression of the course, and reacts…