The Elementary-Middle School (E-M) Development Project was conducted to provide comprehensive and scientific research on objectives, contents, and methods of education in Korea. It provided the basis for development of a new educational system through which major educational problems could be resolved. The project also provided opportunities to…

This report includes a capsule description of changes in science achievement, as part of the National Assessment study of changes in science achievement for 9-year-olds, 13-year-olds, and 17-year-olds attending schools. Concrete information is presented in the progress or decline of knowledge in science. It is reported that knowledge of…

The science achievement of American students ages 9, 13, and 17 was measured during the 1976-77 school year. Overall, 543 different questions were asked in the cognitive assessment of science at the three age levels. The questions were developed according to a two-dimensional matrix. One dimension, the classification of the cognitive abilities…

Data gathered by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) can be used to analyze the relative effects of educational systems in different countries. A simplified example of such analysis utilizes variations among countries, among age cohorts within countries, and between subject matter competencies within…

Conceptual foundations of a process for assessing higher-order thinking are reviewed, and a viable model for carrying out the process is presented. The first section of the paper formulates 21 criteria that should be met by any process adequate to the task. The second section outlines the basic concept of critical thinking on which the paper is…

The development of a new national policy on achievement testing and how researchers sought to influence its development are chronicled. This development has been marked by the emergence of assessment advocates and educational researchers as two classes of assessment experts. Their differential effects on educational reform are explored. (SLD)

Parallel to the implementation of the comprehensive school system in Sweden, English has become obligatory for all pupils and has acquired increasing prominence. This is a report on the EPAL (English at the junior level) project in Sweden, a project which can be compared to FLES in the U.S. and the French-teaching project in England. The general…

This report summarizes Scottish research during 1995 which aimed to assess the take-up, knowledge, understanding, and use of the National Record of Achievement (NRA) in all sectors. The survey found a lack of awareness of the NRA among employers and colleges. One recommendation from the report is for future development and promotion of the NRA in…

This overview of the literature on teaching, learning, and assessment was prepared to help develop a shared understanding by educators, researchers, and students to inform subsequent research conducted by the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE) into the National Certificate in Scotland. Section 1 serves as an introduction to the…

The report describes the impact on the nation of a nine-year effort in research and development in vocational-technical education. Major impact projects are described: (1) developing and restructuring vocational curriculum, (2) developing prevocational curricula, (3) vocational information and guidance systems, (4) management information systems,…

The national educational research agenda outlined in the National Academy of Education's report focuses on the following areas: (1) active learning over the lifespan; (2) assessment; (3) bolstering achievement of underserved, minority, and impoverished groups; (4) school organization; and (5) connection to teachers/teaching. Recommendations are…

At the request of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement, the Panel to Evaluate the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) was established in 1985 by the National Academy of Sciences. This report culminates an extensive two-year study of NCES and reflects the panel's broad view of the center's…

Educational standards, student achievement and basic skills are discussed. Various definitions of standards are given, and a definition which encompases individual differences is preferred. Educational research conducted in New Zealand indicates that there has been no sharp decline in academic achievement, although in primary- and…

The joint UNESCO-UNICEF Monitoring Education-for-All Goals Project was launched in September 1992. The first phase of the project was implemented in five pilot countries (China, Jordan, Mali, Mauritius, and Morocco) with the express aim of providing national decision makers with practical tools for monitoring basic education in their countries and…

This report assesses implementation, knowledge, understanding, and use of the National Record of Achievement (NRA) in all sectors in Scotland in 1995. The report also seeks to identify problem areas and examples of good practice and make recommendations for the future development and promotion of the NRA in Scotland. The NRA is a United…