Recently, nonmaternal center-based child care has been linked to problem behavior in young children (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2003). In response, a comprehensive program to promote prosocial skills was evaluated in a classroom of 16 children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years. Classroom observations were conducted during evocative situations to determine the likelihood of problem behavior (noncompliance, vocal or motor disruptions, aggression) and preschool...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Comprehensive Programs, Child Health, Young Children, Play, Behavior Modification,...
This article presents the universal design features that were identified during the alpha development of a scheduler software program, known as MySchoolDayOnline, for use in schools, and provides preliminary research on the usability of these features. The study presented here investigated the accessibility and usability of MySchoolDayOnline for students with visual impairments. Of the 12 high school students who participated in the field testing, 10 were blind (those with light perception or...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Vision, Field Tests, Visual Impairments, Partial Vision, Program Evaluation, Computer...
The Ticket to Work (TTW) program is a federally funded program meant to assist persons who receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in obtaining employment, with the ultimate goal of terminating SSA benefits and thereby providing a cost savings for the government. With its focus on employment, the TTW program would seem to be an excellent opportunity for beneficiaries who are blind or have low vision, since lower levels of employment are a well-known problem for...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Program Effectiveness, Employment, Disabilities, Blindness, Vocational...
This article reviews active labour-market policies (ALMP), of which training is prominent. For about 20 years now, they have been one of the most important measures to combat unemployment and exclusion from the labour market. But is training a successful and efficient policy to reduce unemployment, compared to other types of ALMP? We draw some conclusions based on a review of evaluation results. We then make recommendations for designing as well as evaluating training. We underline the need for...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Unemployment, Labor Market, Vocational Education, Foreign Countries, Outcomes of...
In determining whether graduates of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program at Southern Oregon University were developing the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions to teach, faculty members found themselves examining their own practice. This is just what Goodlad (1988) suggested we do: clarify our own beliefs in order to better understand our teacher preparation program. We discovered that the development of the MAT program is primarily shaped by the people who teach within the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Education Programs, College Faculty, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Locus of...
The development and dissemination of culturally relevant health care information has traditionally taken a "top-down" approach. Governmental funding agencies and research institutions have too often dictated the importance and focus of health-related research and information dissemination. In addition, the digital divide has affected rural communities in such a way that their members often do not possess the knowledge or experience necessary to use technological resources. And, even...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Information Dissemination, Technical Assistance, Rural Areas, Public Health, Health...
In this paper, the authors depict performance ethnography as having multiple ethical dimensions and multiple implications for the relationships between the evaluator and program participants. They have found performance ethnography to be essentially an intimate form of representation that has tremendous implications for the ownership of qualitative data, particularly data associated with program evaluation. They also address implications for qualitative researchers who wish to use performance...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Program Effectiveness, Evaluation Research, Qualitative Research, Ethnography,...
Over the years, teachers and school leaders have engaged in some form of training beyond their formal preservice, university preparation programs. Whether referred to as in-service training, professional day, or staff or professional development, this activity normally had one purpose: to improve participant's knowledge or skills. With limited teacher time to attend in-service training and limited financial resources to pay for this training, districts are searching for training that provides...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Faculty Development, Student Improvement, School Effectiveness, Outcomes of...
The findings from recent Canadian research indicate that while agency managers and front-line workers agree that evaluation is important, they seldom evaluate their work with clients. With the current emphasis on evidence-based practice and outcome-focused intervention, it is important to be able to demonstrate the value of career services in a manner that service providers find meaningful and funders find useful. In this article a framework for evaluation is presented that permits linking the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Career Development, Delivery Systems, Formative Evaluation, Evaluation Methods,...
In this article, we report a study in which we asked 137 parents and caregivers to evaluate a year-long family literacy program in which they participated. Parents valued the insights they gained about children's learning in general and literacy development in particular. They reported that they learned from each other as well as from the program facilitators; valued especially the structure of the program wherein they spent time working with children in classrooms; felt more included in the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Caregivers, Family Literacy, Program Evaluation, Cultural...
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a tobacco education curriculum in increasing knowledge about tobacco, attitudes toward tobacco use, and intentions to use tobacco among elementary school children. A two-stage cluster sample was used to select a representative sample of 97 schools. Forty-nine schools were in the evaluation group and 48 schools were in the comparison group. One thousand seven hundred and forty-six third grade students participated in the study. The results indicate a...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary School Students, Smoking, Scores, Program Effectiveness, Prevention,...
This article is about how the West Boca Raton Community High School's Culinary Arts Academy achieved national model status as it works to prepare the next generation of culinary artists. The culinary academy, established in 2004, adopted national standards that have served as a foundation for its excellence. In November 2007, the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) recognized the academy for its achievements with the National Standards of Practice "Award of Distinction." Drawn...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Career Academies, Cooking Instruction, High Schools, National Standards, Program...
Dr. Robinson's proposed action plan will serve the needs of highly achieving gifted students. However, defining giftedness as high academic performance based on traditional assessment procedures could reverse the field's fledgling success in supporting culturally diverse gifted children and youth. Changing the focus of equity in gifted education to economic representation will not decrease educators' responsibility to understand the learning needs of racially, culturally, and linguistically...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Poverty, Academically Gifted, Equal Education, Access to Education, Student...
Historically, elementary science teacher inservice has not been an effective means of improving science teaching for most elementary teachers. "Guidelines for Effective Elementary Science Teacher Inservice Education" were developed by Klein (2001) to address this need. This paper illustrates, through a review of program evaluation documentation, how the guidelines were implemented in an elementary science teacher inservice education program. (Contains 4 tables.)
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary School Science, Inservice Teacher Education, Program Evaluation,...
In this paper, the authors describe a model of professional development for early childhood science teachers based on their experiences over the past two years with Project ASTER: Active Science Teaching Encourages Reform. In this project, they have identified seven elements that constitute a quality professional development program. These elements include: (1) strong partnership between school districts and institutions of higher education; (2) unique collaboration between science educators...
Topics: ERIC Archive, National Curriculum, Preservice Teachers, Self Efficacy, Primary Education, Program...
Methods courses in teacher education programs have made a transition in the last years toward field-based experiences as part of the preparation for teaching science in the elementary school. However, little conclusive evidence exists as to any desirable influence field experiences are having on science teaching attitudes and learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the process, discuss the effectiveness and impacts, and highlight the implications of an extended field...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Methods Courses, Field Experience...
This study evaluated the manpower-training program for teaching personnel in mid-western Nigeria by the National Teachers' Institute. Overall, 240 participants involved in the training program who were randomly selected from the area constituted the sample for the study. A questionnaire designed by the authors was the major instrument used for data gathering. Analyses of the results showed that the programs are fairly effective in upgrading the skills and knowledge of the participants. It was...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Needs, Foreign Countries, Program Evaluation, Developing Nations,...
The Leventis Foundation (Nigeria) Agricultural Schools (LFNAS) are schools established to train youths to develop their state and their nation in the area of food production. This study sought to assess the trainability of enrollees in the three operating LFNAS. Five research questions were posed. The CIPP evaluation model was adopted. The population and sample for the study consisted of a total of 247 enrollees. Questionnaires, structured interviews and observational techniques were used to...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Foreign Countries, Career Development, Economic Development, Developing Nations,...
When the author was a little girl, her father told her the story of how he once saw the great Harry Houdini escape from a straight jacket. In the early 1900s, Houdini fascinated thousands of people by performing feats of life-threatening daring and agility. Houdini was a professional in the traditional sense: he acted alone, kept his trade secrets to himself, and instilled respect in his audience. As a teacher educator, the author now looks upon Harry Houdini's magic act as a metaphor for her...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Professional Development Schools, Field Tests, Teacher Educators, Inquiry, Standards,...
In October 2002, the multiple and single subject credential programs at a large urban Los Angeles Basin California State University campus, were approved as Early Adopters of the SB 2042 Professional Teacher Preparation Program. These programs resulted from a complex and multi-faceted process of change supported and influenced by reform initiatives at the regional, state and national levels over approximately a 15 year period. An analysis of the process that occurred at this urban, diverse,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Urban Schools, Educational Change, Urban Education, Program Implementation, Case...
As accrediting associations and ISLLC Standards for School Leaders attest, school leaders have a critical role to insure equitable educational opportunities for diverse students. But how are they being prepared for multicultural leadership in administrator preparation programs? This qualitative study examined and contrasted four different university programs to answer this question. Findings reveal consistency among the programs, with a fairly traditional array of course offerings. While...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Administrator Education, Leadership, Administrator Role, Accreditation...
This study used the areas of responsibility developed by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) as a framework for the assessment of Service Learning experiences of undergraduate health education students. In the present study, six Service Learning projects involving 12 students were evaluated using multiple strategies, including (1) students' written reflections, (2) a survey, and (3) annotated portfolios. Written reflections focused on students' impact on the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Portfolios (Background Materials), Health Education, Student Attitudes, Service...
There has long been controversy in this country about the implementation of school-based sexuality education. In recent years, however, the controversy has centered on abstinence education. Critics of abstinence education programs seem to have three major concerns relative to abstinence education programming: (1) promotion of religion; (2) provision of inaccurate information; and (3) ineffective programming. The focus of this article is on the charge that abstinence education programs are...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Sex Education, Program Effectiveness, Programming, Federal Government, Sexuality,...
Background: Smoking is especially prevalent among Native Hawaiians. The 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System revealed that 33.8% of Hawaiians were current smokers. Native Hawaiians have the highest age-adjusted lung cancer incidence and mortality rates and the highest prevalence of asthma among all ethnicities. Purpose: This study describes the outcomes of a culturally appropriate, integrated smoking cessation program. Methods: Each participant (n=209) was exposed to multiple...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Health Education, Program Evaluation, Smoking, Hawaiians, Mortality Rate, Cancer,...
Background: This paper describes a portion of a larger evaluation project of a state hepatitis prevention program. Purpose: The study explored the suggestions of key informants related to the delivery of hepatitis services in the state. Methods: Researchers conducted key informant interviews lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Results: Important findings included: (1) administrative support of the hepatitis program was critical to staff perception of its importance; (2) outreach and public education as...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Health Education, Prevention, Program Evaluation, Interviews, Administrator...
Background: University-community partnerships can support schools in implementing evidence-based responses to youth obesity trends. An inter-organizational partnership was established to implement and evaluate the Healthy Choices Collaborative Intervention (HCCI). HCCI combines an interdisciplinary curriculum, before/after school activities, and the School Health Index to promote physical activity, reduce television viewing, and increase fruit and vegetable consumption among middle school...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Television Viewing, Obesity, Middle Schools, Intervention, Health Education, Physical...
Over the past decade many university-based teacher education programs and school districts have forged partnerships creating restructured, collaborative programs aimed at improving teaching and learning for credential candidates, as well as the children that they serve. According to data from the California Department of Education, progress is being made in raising the percentage of fully certificated teachers teaching in urban schools; however, it is unknown whether this progress will be...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Urban Schools, Professional Development Schools, Inservice Teacher Education,...
This article describes an approach and an innovative technology used at California Lutheran University that responds to the problematic relationship between preservice teacher service-learning projects and assessment, evaluation, and reporting. This innovative technology, The ProfPort Webfolio System, enables teacher educators to positively address the inconsistency between subjective responses to service-learning activities and the more objective measures embedded in standards-based...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Portfolio Assessment, Program...
Some colleges of education and urban school districts have established collaborative Professional Development Schools (PDSs) to prepare teachers across the learning-to-teach continuum (pre-service to in-service to instructional leaders) to address the particular needs of low-income, culturally and linguistically diverse (LI/CLD) students. Outcomes, either in regard to K-12 pupils or to pre-service and in-service teachers, have been infrequently examined despite the proliferation of these...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Urban Schools, Schools of Education, Professional Development Schools, Elementary...
Increasing pressure has been placed on teacher education to prepare teachers to educate bilingual/bicultural students using scientifically-based teaching methods. Socio-cultural theory and pedagogy have emerged as a research-based foundation for diversity teacher preparation. Socio-cultural theory rests on the premise that learning is social, and that it is through social interaction with teachers and peers who are more knowledgeable that students receive assistance as needed in their Zone of...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Education, Teacher Education Programs, Distance Education, Program...
Although the ultimate goal of teacher education is to provide an adequate supply of highly qualified teachers for the nation's schools, many factors hinder its success. In special education, too few people enter the field, and a policy context that promotes easy entry via unconventional preparation threatens to dilute teacher quality. In this challenging and complex context, teacher educators struggle to improve their work and to assess innovations credibly. In this paper, the authors describe...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Preservice Teacher Education, Teacher Effectiveness, Special Education Teachers,...
There is widespread understanding of the need to evaluate teacher education programs. Unfortunately, the history of teacher education program evaluations is spotty, evolutionary, and limited in scope. Probably the most fundamental reason that program evaluations are limited is that there has not been a clear, consistent, and shared framework for organizing the many variables that comprise teacher education practice and relating these to evidence of effectiveness. In this article, the authors...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Education Programs, Program Evaluation, Teacher Education Curriculum,...
Multiple sources of influence impact the decisions about what and how teacher educators are expected to operate, including the innovations that are adopted. Some of those sources of influence (such as teacher certification boards) can demand that certain curricula be adopted, specific instructional procedures be utilized, and delineate the conditions under which candidates will be selected for entry into teacher education programs. Other sources of influence include how other professionals are...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Teacher Education Programs, Teacher Education Curriculum, Educational Innovation,...
With the recent proliferation of college service-learning programs and tutoring programs, college students have more opportunities to serve as tutors in elementary schools than ever before. A number of reports have appeared in the research literature describing tutoring programs that could serve as models for tutoring initiatives. Based on this research, the authors developed a service-learning tutoring program for their undergraduate prospective teachers designed to provide support for them in...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Elementary School Students, Program Effectiveness, Tutors, Elementary School...
Project FUTURE is one component of a multifaceted approach in the Northwest Texas region to target Hispanic and African-American youth, encouraging them to go through school with a desire to complete education programs leading to professional credentialing in teaching. Project FUTURE inspires students to believe that they can attend Texas Tech University and become teachers through the College of Education. In keeping with the mission and vision of the College of Education, Project FUTURE seeks...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Career Choice, Youth, Career Development, Models, Hispanic American Students, African...
Partnerships, especially the Professional Development School (PDS) model, between institutions of higher education (IHE) and public schools (PS), have become, if not commonplace, a successful model for teacher education. PDS teacher education projects in which preservice teachers and higher education faculty participate in school-based instruction have been established as both desirable and effective. However, implementing a PDS model in some settings often fails due to certain insurmountable...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Schools of Education, Professional...
This article outlines the efforts of the California State University, East Bay Department of Educational Leadership to develop, nurture and implement leadership department partnerships with local school districts. This case study reports on how one such partnership developed and the lessons learned from it. Included is a set of partnership features as well as a discussion about promising practices related to program focus, elements, collaborative planning and teaching and long range outcomes....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational Change, Instructional Leadership, Partnerships in Education, Case...
An on-line education administration course was evaluated using Seven Lessons Learned by Graham, Cagiltay, Lim, Craner, and Duffy (2001 ) as the framework. The framework was found to be useful in revealing areas of strengths and weaknesses in offering virtual education administration courses. The evaluation provided information that clear guidelines for online interaction need to be established, well-designed discussion assignments need to be provided, and that flexibility is important in the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Online Courses, Educational Administration, Program Evaluation, Educational...
Although outcomes for alternative schools may be mixed, it is generally agreed that counseling, therapy, group work, case management, and family-community involvement have been credited in some effective programs. This study examined program evaluations from 1994-1999 for an alternative school for chronically disruptive students (599 students, ages 9-22) that was funded by a state grant to assure safer, drug-free public schools. School-based mental health services were mandated by the grant....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Health Services, Locus of Control, Nontraditional Education, Grade Point Average,...
Standard-driven curriculum, evidence of learning through assessment, meaningful performance outcomes, and the growing diversity of student populations are transforming how inclusion is implemented and evaluated. To provide all students with a quality instructional program that meets individual educational needs in the context of political and social justice, a culture of collaboration, community building, and reflective practice is needed. The areas of socio-educational cultural change...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Physical Education, Student Needs, Program Administration, Educational Change, Equal...
The growing interest in youth development, prevention, and assessment has challenged professional practices relative to the design, implementation, and evaluation of youth development programs. This article sheds light on the need for continuous training and staff development in the areas of program development and documentation, using the observations and deductions from a field occurrence experienced by the author with a group of youth development practitioners. It also discusses a strategy...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Youth Programs, Program Development, Theory Practice Relationship, Case Studies,...
The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using email prompts to attenuate the decrease of physical activity in adults during a winter season. In addition, the secondary purposes were (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of email prompts at increasing motivation towards physical activity and (2) to evaluate the awareness of the email campaign. Extension agents from the state of North Dakota (N=81) participated in a physical activity behavioral intervention study....
Topics: ERIC Archive, Computer Mediated Communication, Prompting, Adults, Program Effectiveness, Program...
The need for quality service-learning programs has increased according to greater interest in service-learning and civic engagement for academically gifted students. The Civic Leadership Institute (CLI), a 3-week residential program for gifted adolescents, is a service-learning program created to help academically talented students explore complex social issues that are faced by communities and society today. Class activities are comprised of rigorous academic coursework, community volunteer...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Academically Gifted, Service Learning, Residential Programs, Summer Programs, Student...
This article summarizes five K-12 school-based dating violence prevention curricula/programs that have gone through some form of evaluation and peer review. These programs were selected as a result of a broad and comprehensive review of the relationship violence literature that has been published in the past decade. Program objectives, components, outcomes, and evaluation procedures are compared and discussed. The programs that were reviewed were generally found to be not very effective at...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Violence, Elementary Secondary Education, Prevention, Evaluation, Dating (Social),...
The Ohio PSEO Program is a legislated dual enrollment curricular offering. The program provides higher educational courses that are also credited at the high school and funded at state expense for qualifi ed students. Although individual and institutional benefits of the program abound (i.e., accelerated postsecondary completion, decreased expenses, articulation agreements, seamless education, and reduction in developmental college courses), the utilization rate has not appreciably increased,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Focus Groups, Articulation (Education), Dual Enrollment, Postsecondary Education,...
From 1932 to 1940, the Progressive Education Association (PEA) conducted its Eight-Year Study. At first, the study appeared to be a poorly funded comparison of two groups of students in secondary schools. During the last four years, as more financial support became available, the Eight-Year Study became a broadly based demonstration of a wide range of educational innovations. For contemporary educators, the story of the Eight-Year Study represents an opportunity to reconsider popular principles...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Educational History, Longitudinal Studies, Comparative Analysis, Educational Change,...
Best practice in preventing severe problem behavior in schools involves implementing a continuum of effective behavior support. This continuum includes primary prevention strategies implemented with all students, secondary prevention strategies for students at-risk, and tertiary interventions for students who engage in the most severe problem behavior. This article outlines one type of secondary prevention program called the Behavior Education Program (BEP) which is a modified, check-in,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Intervention, Prevention, Behavior Problems, Program Effectiveness, Preschool...
Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the effects of family, child, and both early childhood intervention process and structural variables on parent and family well-being in a sample of 250 parents involved in birth to age three early childhood intervention programs. Family SES and income had direct positive effects, family-centered early intervention practices had direct and indirect positive effects, perceived program control appraisals had direct and indirect positive effects,...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Early Intervention, Program Evaluation, Structural Equation Models, Self Efficacy,...
On April 1, 1983, thirteen "enthusiastic, daring, creative and resourceful" (Landstrom, 1993, p. 113) Canadian distance educators who were attending an international conference on telecourses gathered in a hotel room in Washington DC to socialize. They left that evening with a dream: a Canadian distance education association. Now, after the memberships of both CADE and the Association for Media and Technology in Education in Canada (AMTEC) have voted to create a new national bilingual...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Distance Education, Housing, Foreign Countries, Organizations (Groups), Theory...
A significant challenge facing the juvenile justice system is the task of transitioning and reintegrating juveniles from youth corrections facilities back into the community. This challenge, in part, is related to determining whether the referred community programs are effective. This article summarizes the literature on the effectiveness of community programs for juveniles involved in the justice system, including defining characteristics of evidence-based programs and examining the...
Topics: ERIC Archive, Community Programs, Juvenile Justice, Rehabilitation, Transitional Programs, Program...