CNU Online is the computer-managed instructional delivery system of Christopher Newport University. Fully functioning to deliver wholly online courses since fall 1994, CNU Online has been using an officially approved assessment plan since January 1995. The plan is presented as a useful example for others developing online instructional delivery.…

This study investigated predictors of Harvard University (Massachusetts) student ratings of courses. Data were drawn from 33,180 evaluations of 1,114 undergraduate courses in 47 departments. Predictors examined at the student level included satisfaction with the course, perceived course difficulty, whether the course was in the student's major,…

A study examined preservice teachers' responses to a teacher education course and explored the relationship between how the preservice teachers made sense of the coursework and the assumptions of teacher educators. Nine preservice teachers enrolled in a preservice content area reading summer course were each interviewed six times during the…

How distance education affects academic performance and student attitudes was studied for graduate students in an off-campus location taking a course required for their majors. The performance and attitudes of the distance (off-campus/remote) class of 16 students were compared with those of a control group of 12 students in a similar class and 25…

The Bibliographic Instruction Committee of the Wichita State (Kansas) University Libraries recommended changes to improve the current bibliographic instruction program for lower division undergraduates. The shortcomings of the current program, one class period in a required English course, were analyzed; and suggestions were made to improve the…

This paper explores the issues surrounding quality in higher education and its necessary adaptation to the online world of educational delivery. A historical perspective on quality standards is presented, and characteristics of recent models for quality control are outlined. Quality-related issues in Walden University's (Minnesota) two new online,…

This pilot study was conducted in order to determine whether a virtual classroom can be assessed, and whether it can be done using already proven techniques for classroom environment assessment. Study participants were 20 graduate students in education enrolled in three different courses offered at a distance via the World Wide Web. Each of the…

This study examined the effectiveness of the anchored instruction (i.e., using a theme or anchor around which various learning activities take place) approach in preparing preservice teachers to integrate technology. Participants were 48 students enrolled in the three sections of a preservice educational technology class during the summer of 1997.…

The aim of the TEEODE project was to develop a representative survey of the models of assessment and evaluation used by institutions supporting distance learning in the 15 member states of the European Union. This paper focuses on issues of course development and assessment, and, in particular, on how effective learning outcomes are achieved and…

This practicum was designed to assist the personnel of a middle school in becoming aware of the potential educational benefits of computers and computer networks (specifically, local area networks, or LANs). An introductory presentation concerning the importance of technology in education was followed by 10 inservice training sessions. The classes…

A project to expand the participation of faculty from predominantly black colleges and universities in educational research and development is described. During three 4-week summer residential workshops, three courses were offered: Models and Methods of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Computer Utilization in Social and Behavioral Sciences, and a…

Analysis of recent literature on experiential education provides material for a model for learning experiences in experiential education. The model is constructed from six interconnected and overlapping parts, ranging from the profoundly foundational to the more specifically tactical. First, the learning experience attends to the human condition.…

An instructional resource handbook for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) at Old Dominion University (Virginia) is presented. Attention is directed to: the student and teacher roles of GTAs; 10 myths about teaching; the international GTA; choosing instructional approaches and media; preparing lessons, preparing support materials (syllabus,…

This study was conducted to examine the usefulness of survey results and the ways in which the results were used, and to gather recommendations for improving the surveys and/or the reports. The Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS) was developed to assess undergraduate students' attitudes toward their major areas, their departments, and the University…

This study identifies the current status of state policies on distance education in a sample of states and identifies changes in federal, state, and local roles in developing policies that may encourage more efficient and effective use of technology for distance learning. The study identifies and analyzes policies in key areas which are now, or…