Three proposals developed from concerns in the 1960s about the effectiveness of continuing medical education are discussed: a national plan, a process program model based on identified physician needs, and use of mandatory continuing education in relicensing/recertification. Problems are considered, and recommendations for changes are summarized.…

Compared a sample of 154 students finishing a course in career education and a control group. Found students completing the career education course demonstrated significantly greater satisfaction with their career needs being met and significantly reduced levels of needs in terms of their career development. (Author)

Reviewed 45 assessment instruments with respect to content domains, response and scoring procedures, administrative feasibility, target populations, and potential sources of test bias. Identified priorities for future research and development in communication competence testing. (PD)

A superintendent reports on the massive, communitywide effort to improve education in Atlanta, Georgia. The goal was to raise student reading and math skills to above national norms by 1985. Preliminary findings show significant progress towards reaching those goals. For journal availability, see SO 509 295. (AM)

In 1979, the state of Massachusetts identified 11 listening and 14 speaking skills as part of a basic skills program in elementary/secondary schools. The authors were asked to recommend methods of assessing these skills. The article summarizes their decision process and includes the recommendations. (PD)

Reports on the development of an assessment instrument to test basic communication skills necessary for students' success in college. Covers the instrument's conceptual foundation, administration procedures, development, and analysis. (PD)

Discusses the need for awareness of real and potential problems in educational evaluation approaches, kinds of problems there are with true experimental designs and with quasi-experimental designs, and the criteria applied by the Joint Dissemination Review Panel to its review of educational programs. (MF)

Examines effects of a Supreme Court decision (Gribbs vs Duke Power Co., 1971) stating that job applicants need neither pass an intelligence test nor possess particular educational credentials unless they are directly related to the requirements of the job. Journal available from Georgetown University Law Center, 600 New Jersey Ave., NW,…

Describes development of language skills in elementary and secondary schools in the USSR. Also illustrates a model which links theory and practice with research on psychological functions pioneered by L.S. Vygotsky in the 1920s and 1930s. Topics discussed include guidelines to acquisition of speech, language as a means of communication, and…

California Assessment Program's application of matrix sampling and item response curve theory to the scaling and reporting of state assessment data is described. It is designed to express educational outcomes in an efficient and interpretable form that is both immediately informative and suited to analysis over extended periods of time.…

Reviews the usefulness of existing national longitudinal studies in determining the effects of vocational education. It is clear that there is no unified vocational education program and that students in these programs differ markedly from those in other curricula. (SK)

Proposes a two-level decision model to evaluate educational programs by types of learners they generate as well as the utility and cost of the program. Decision rules based on the underlying requirement that each learner reach self-sufficiency are described. (Author/BK)

The Survey of Oceanic Attitudes and Knowledge (SOAK) was conducted to determine levels of marine awareness and participation in marine-related activities among 10th graders in Virginia. Major finding was a fairly low level of knowledge, varying with area of interest and respondent's sex, race, and place of residence. (BW)

Discusses the Finnish government's decision of principles concerning the development of adult education in terms of "free cultural and educational work": adult education centers or civic and workers' institutes, folk high schools, and study circles and cultural work of national civic organizations. (MF)

A former reader-evaluator of essays for "Advanced Placement Examination in English" explains why he cannot with good conscience continue as "part of a process which tells these students they are (to different degrees) 'qualified."' (RL)