As online education has entered the main stream of the U.S. higher education, quality assurance in online course development has become a critical topic in distance education. This short article summarizes the major benchmarks related to online course development, listing and comparing the benchmarks of the National Education Association (NEA),…

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has organized the standards for accomplished teachers of world languages into nine standards, which are presented in this report: (1) Standard I: Knowledge of Students; (2) Standard II: Knowledge of Language; (3) Standard III: Knowledge of Culture; (4) Standard IV: Knowledge of Language…

Following an overview of the need for evaluation training, the Analysis of Evaluation Training Materials Project is described and the coverage, methodology, and usability of materials available for training educational personnel in evaluation skills are considered. Problem areas in evaluation, identified by the National Institute of Education…

The Testing, Assessment, and Evaluation Division (TAE) of the National Institute of Education was created during a reorganization in 1978. Some of TAE's activities have included: identifying research needs; long-range planning for federally-sponsored evaluation research; reviewing evaluation methodologies; comparing local vs. large national…

This document reports responses from Alaska's 54 school districts to a Department of Education survey on curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The first section provides general information about the school districts' responses in those three areas, including information on curriculum guides, graduation requirements, student assessment…

Summarizes the past contributions of the Buros Institute to the counseling and psychology communities, and previews the emergence of a more timely and responsive array of products and services. Contends that, as the psychological community continues through the 1990s, the Buros Institute will continue to provide clinicians, practitioners, and…

Discusses the use of tests and assessment in person-centered counseling. In person-centered counseling, the most fundamental value is honoring the client as the authority on his or her own life. The extreme focus on the "self-authority" tends to militate against the use of tests and assessment. Person-centered counseling includes unsystematic…

The Department of Education has requested that a committee of experts evaluate its role in supporting education research, with special attention to OERI activities. The committee is expected to make recommendations to the department that will make OERI more effective and increase the impact of its investment in education research. (DM)

Discusses Career-Development Assessment and Counseling model, which implements current development theory and uses innovative assessment measures and improved counseling methods to improve vocational and life career counseling. Focuses on assessment, treating interests and preferences as basic status data to be viewed in light of career maturity,…

Explores role and possible futures of professional organizations, such as American Association for Counseling and Development's Association for Measurement and Evaluation (AMECD) division. Suggests that AMECD and similar groups are experiencing similar set of social and professional pressures. Suggests explosion in knowledge has created new…

Four evaluation methods for determining educational policy are objectivism; subjectivism; emotive-imperative; and instrumentalism. For the objectivist, the rationale for undertaking an evaluation is based on empirical verification or non-verification of claims of existing policies or activities. Secondly, the objectivist is interested in…

Described is a procedure for assessment of student performance in laboratory work (practical work) in Advanced Level Biology in England. Some historical background is included. (PB)

An incident from evaluation practice is examined to aid understanding of moral problems in evaluation. Six characteristics are identified and discussed. Types of research needed on the moral aspects of evaluation practice are presented. Suggestions for aiding evaluators in dealing with moral problems are outlined. (Author/DWH)

Describes computer-adaptive tests and computer-based tests used in improvement-referenced evaluation. Reviews tests developed by the Northwest Evaluation Association and Lexia. (PKP)

On basis of literature review, distinguishes support groups from self-help and treatment groups. Proposes open systems model for understanding factors that affect support groups, for guiding interventions, and for evaluating their outcomes. Describes four conceptual dimensions: environmental conditions; participant group characteristics; group…