Fueled by a culture fascinated by numbers and increased accountability, data-driven instruction has become a mighty force as it joins with the tools of technology to handle the mammoth task of gathering, sorting, analyzing, and synthesizing data. Success stories from districts all over the country attest to the positive results of implementing…

Provides guidelines that may be used by supervisors as a checklist to assist them in conducting evaluation procedures that show proper concern and understanding for the needs of the classroom teacher. (Author/IRT)

Informal assessment can make a valuable contribution to the assessment process in special education. Informal procedures are characterized by their ability to be tailored to the needs of specific assessment situations and are especially useful in student evaluation for this reason. (Author)

Using short-term pilot programs to evaluate textbooks can lead to unreliable results and interfere with effective education. Alternative methods for evaluating textbook-based programs include obtaining documented analyses of competitors' products from sales agents, visiting districts using programs being considered, and examining publishers' own…

Pellicer claims that personal interviews for selecting teachers can be made more reliable by using a structured approach. In response, Muller agrees that the structured interview is better than informal procedures, but states that the instrument used must be the product of careful research. (Author/MLF)

Currently, in the field of guidance, relevant stakeholders including guidance practitioners, educators and policy makers, have identified progression for adults in education and employment as one of the key outcomes of educational guidance. Lifelong guidance is now inextricably linked with lifelong learning as a mechanism to enhance individual…

Guidelines are offered to help special education teachers select appropriate software and integrate computer-assisted instruction (CAI) into existing curricula. (JW)

Though curriculum-based assessment (CBA) is considered a valuable evaluation procedure, areas of concern exist, including: assumptions regarding content of the CBA instrument, appropriateness of CBA as the only information source for individualized education programs, and recognition of CBA's limitations as a procedure/model under the current…

Discusses the role of a college or university's chairman of the Board of Trustees. Identifies common problems, such as a lack of a clear job description, lack of training, and unrealistic expectations. Also suggests some solutions, including a job description, limited term for the board chair, and training in conducting board meetings. Offers…

The paper maintains that impact evaluation studies of programs serving handicapped infants and preschoolers should be restricted to scientifically defendable investigations. Specific types of impact studies and an evaluation process are suggested. It is suggested that program leaders should focus evaluation activities on the status of project…

Presents a selection of opinions on the bases for faculty evaluation. They range from a strongly-stated argument against over-emphasis on outside funding to a proposed system of performance quantifying performance. (JN)

Shows how a teacher developed a pattern of responding to student writing. Lists 15 of her standard comments. (RL)

Sixteen teachers offer their alternative methods of evaluating student work in the English classroom. (RL)

The article examines effective assessment and placement practices in the use of augmentative communication with severely disabled persons through use of a case study and review of the pertinent literature. Models of assessment considered are the Decision-Making Matrix and the Pre-Verbal Communication Schedule. (DB)

An approach to enhancing program quality in educational institutions through program mapping is presented in this report. First, the objective of program mapping is specified as a means to evaluate and clarify the learning outcomes of a college's educational programs; and its use as a graphic representation of the interdependent relationships…