The purpose of this section is to publish information regarding studies that are in the planning or implementation stages. It will not only serve to inform readers of current initiatives but also to facilitate exchange of information among researchers working in the same area.

With respect to each project, it is planned to list the topic, the research(s), the institution (if sny) through which the project is being conducted, a contact address and/or telephone number, and a brief description of the project itself.

Intending contributors should send the appropriate details to:

The Editor
'Queensland Researcher'
Research Services Branch
Queensland Department of Education
P. O. Box 33
North Quay Q 4002

Title:

Evaluation of Hervey Bay College - A Senior College of the Department of Education, Queensland.

Introduction

In order to address adequately the many important aspects of the Hervey Bay College concept, several evaluation approaches are necessary; namely, an on-going internal evaluation, and a series of external evaluations. Each of these approaches has unique capabilities and different sets of responsibilities for implementation. It is anticipated that the internal evaluation will be a source of information concerning the major descriptive features of the institution. The external evaluations will respond predominantly, but not exclusively, to the information requirements of Head and Regional Office personnel. They will also assist the College with its information needs, particularly by testing the validity of the interpretations made by College staff with respect to institutional data.

The evaluation activities are being co-ordinated by an Evaluation Sub-Committee of the Policy and Management Committee, New Colleges which has representatives from the Division of Secondary Education, TAFE and Curriculum Services and from the ACER. The Sub-Committee acts as a reference group to assist with the identification of information needs, co ordinate evaluation activities, authorise reports, and identify specific responsibilities for the conduct of the evaluations.

Hervey Bay College

Evaluation Reports

Number 1:	Broad Framework for Proposed Evaluations Associated with the Establishment and Development of the Hervey Bay College.
Number 2:	A Descriptive Profile of Hervey Bay College, May 1986.
Number 3:	Some Perceptions and Attitudes Held by Students After the First Six Months' Operation of Hervey Bay College.

Report Number 1

The primary purposes of the document are to:

• outline the key features of the College that are to be evaluated;
• identify the major information needs of the College, the local community, the education system and the public;
• identify the evaluation models to be employed;
• establish the relationship among the evaluation approaches which can best serve the various information needs of the College, local community, education system (Head and Regional Office) and the general public; and
• suggest where the various evaluation responsibilities are best vested.

• background features of the College concept, including assumptions about the setting and the information requirements of various groups;
• general characteristics of the College;
• a general plan for the evaluations;
• the information required for decision makers (concerning the system, local context and College);
• a sample information collection plan delineating how the information requirements might be met;
• decision areas to be addressed in reports for specific audiences (i.e. Head Office, Regional Offices and the College);
• a tentative timeline for external evaluation activities;
• reporting of the evaluations; and
• management of the evaluations.

Report Number 2

• statement of College goals;
• management structure;
• duties and responsibilities of senior classified staff;
• College organisation (times pf classes; buses; non-class time, etc.);
• curriculum (nature, subject selections, assessment, mechanisms for accreditation/credentialling);
• College discipline;
• library resource centre; and
• statistical information on the student population.

Report Number 3

.
• A short questionnaire administered by the College staff to all students seeking overall levels of satisfaction and specific reactions to the College.
• A 58-item questionnaire administered by officers from Research Services Branch to a cohort of 84 students, consisting of 41 taking predominantly Board of Secondary School Studies subject, and 43 taking predominantly Vocational subjects. Students were asked to indicate their level of agreement with each of the items. Teachers were also asked to complete the questionnaire by predicting the percentage of students that they teach who would be in agreement with each item.
• Follow-up interviews conducted by the officers from Research Services Branch with random samples of teachers and students.

• the majority of students are satisfied with all aspects of their life at Hervey Bay College, with the exception of the sporting and recreational facilities of the College, as well as student guidance in the use of leisure time, which were seen by both teachers and students to be inadequate;
• very few students are dissatisfied with any aspect of their College life;
• the number and positioning of spare periods on the College timetable, particularly for Semester 1, has caused several problems for both teachers and students;
• students are very positive about their relationship with teachers and other students at the College, however, the formal mechanism for pastoral care (Care Groups) does not generally appear to be operating to the satisfaction of either students or teachers. Many teachers indicated a lack of understanding of their role in Care Groups and insufficient training as a Care Group teacher; and
• students are very happy about the amount of freedom that they have been given to develop as responsible individuals.

Research Services Branch
Department of Education
P. O Box 33
North Quay Q 4002

Please cite as: QIER (1987). Studies in progress 3(1). Queensland Researcher, 3(1), 35-39. http://www.iier.org.au/qjer/qr3/studies-3-1.html