THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM MATERIALS--A FEASIBILITY STUDY. FINAL REPORT.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RETRIEVAL OF INFORMATION FOR MATHEMATICS EDUCATION SYSTEM (PRIMES) PROJECT WERE TO DEVELOP AN INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM MATERIALS AND TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR LOCAL PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO USE THE SYSTEM FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND SELECTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. BECAUSE BRIEF EXPERIENCE WITH THE SYSTEM PRECLUDES DISCUSSING EFFECTIVENESS, THIS REPORT DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF PRODUCTS. A CENTRAL MICROFILM DOCUMENT FILE, CONSISTING OF 25,000 ANALYZED PAGES FROM ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS BASAL TEXT SERIES, AND ACCOMPANYING TOOLS, INCLUDING CONTENT AND BEHAVIOR AUTHORITY LISTS, WERE DEVELOPED BY SUBJECT SPECIALISTS AND PREPARED BY COMPUTER. TWO REGIONAL CENTERS WERE ESTABLISHED FOR SERVICE TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND PRIMES PERSONNEL HAVE PARTICIPATED IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS WHO STUDIED THE OPERATION RECOMMEND THAT THE SYSTEM BE APPLIED AND DATA COLLECTED FOR EVALUATION. CONCLUSIONS ARE THAT (1) ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS CAN BE DONE CENTRALLY BY A STATE EDUCATION AGENCY, (2) IT IS FEASIBLE TO APPLY NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM MATERIALS, AND (3) SERVICE TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD BE DECENTRALIZED. EXPANDING THIS SYSTEM AND MOVING TO OTHER AREAS AND STATE-WIDE SERVICES ARE SUGGESTED. APPENDIXES LIST PROJECT PERSONNEL, BASAL TEXTBOOK PROGRAMS IN FILE, AND FILE PARAMETERS. (JB)