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When an instructor adopts teaching materials, he/she wants some measure of confidence that the resource is effective, correct, and robust. The measurement of the quality of a resource is an open problem. It is our thesis that the traditional evaluative approach to peer review is not appropriate to insure the quality of teaching materials, which are created with different contextual constraints. This Working Group report focuses on the evaluation process by detailing a variety of review models. The evolution of the development and review of teaching materials is outlined and the contexts for creation, assessment, and transfer are discussed. We present an empirical study of evaluation forms conducted at the ITiCSE 99 conference, and recommend at least one new review model for the validation of the quality of teaching resources.

The development of generalized database management capabilities has been one of the most dynamic areas of computer technology in recent years. It not only presents the computer specialists with a range of technical and theoretical problems of substantial interest, but has direct and visible impact upon the operations of organizations and upon the environment of the individual in an increasingly information oriented society. Accordingly, an introduction to the technology of database management is not only relevant for the computer scientist but to managers, administrators and everyone concerned with the problems of information processing. As a result, a very real question is where in the undergraduate curriculum is this introduction taking place. Are Computer Sciences Departments offering such courses? Business Schools? Both? A second question is what do the education groups of the two professional computer societies—ACM and IEEE—have to say about database management education. A third question then becomes, how closely do the courses being taught in this area today parallel what the education committees suggest.

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Writing my first textbook was an eye-opening experience. I had to dig deep. I had ideas I was excited about and found others that were excited about them as well. I also found strong opposition to my approach, which was difficult for publishers to evaluate. My experience raised a number of questions that I have outlined below. These questions range from personnel motivation to future trends in computing. I have gathered a panel of respected authors. I have asked each to respond to some of these questions. Time will also be available for the audience to ask questions and share their own experiences.