Responds to the criticism offered by M. Scriven of the call for a radical new approach to teacher evaluation made by M. Roth and K. Tobin, noting that more builders of evaluation theory are needed, especially builders of theory that can be useful as the starting point for change. (SLD)

The authors describe an evolving theoretical framework that has been called one of the best kept secrets of academia: cultural-historical activity theory, the result of proposals Lev Vygotsky first articulated but that his students and followers substantially developed to constitute much expanded forms in its second and third generations. Besides…

Data from a study of learning conducted with 26 seventh and eighth graders are used to show the highly heterogeneous and contingent nature of students' responses to lever problems. A framework is proposed to explain variations in cognitive performance across situations and to critique some of the assumptions underlying assessments. (SLD)