Connectivity: Spike Hall's RU WeblogNews, clips, comments on knowledge, knowledge-making, education, weblogging, philosophy, systems and ecology.Needs Assessment: A scenario, given that we have the data- October 29, 2005 Untitled Document Summary: It's hard to find a path to educational reform. Using "deficiency scores" on norm-referenced tests is and ineffective approach, even if it's sincerely intended only as a startup catalyst. They just aren't family-, school- or teacher- friendly enough to translate into effective reform. The heat they generate consumes resources while enhancing nothing but the level of distrust of Federal change efforts. Effective reform must translate directly into classroom...http://radio.weblogs.com/0106698/2005/10/29.html#a322 Needs Based Assessment of Educational Systems- October 6, 2005 Summary. This entry takes up where my earlier entry on Needs Based (or Goal Free) Evaluation at the general level left off. In this one I've decided to conduct a 'mental experiment' by beginning to describe a needs based evaluation of our schools. In order to procede with some intellectual order that we'll start with the following definition: "A student is having educational needs met when: a) shehe is receiving appropriate instruction for herhis "zone of proximal development" (roughly...http://radio.weblogs.com/0106698/2005/10/06.html#a320 Goal Free (or Needs Based) Evaluation Background- October 6, 2005 Summary: Must we always evaluate only because a funder or service provider mandates or requests the evaluation For example, must we only evaluate a school as required by, say, the school board or the school's faculty or administration Must the local hybrid gas-electric engine plant be evaluated only as corporate offices dictate The answer to all is no! In this entry I work to unpack the ideas using thoughts from Michael Scriven, eminient philosopher and evaluator. As you probably can guess, I..http://radio.weblogs.com/0106698/2005/10/06.html#a317 |