Nothing brings out the best in eighth-grade physical science students quite like an engineering challenge. The wind turbine design challenge described in this article has proved to be a favorite among students with its focus on teamwork and creativity and its (almost) sneaky reinforcement of numerous physics concepts. For this activity, pairs of…

This study investigated the use of a contextually sensitive instrument to assess the effect of invasive species monitoring training on the scientific literacy of citizen volunteers. The authors measured scientific literacy scores before and after 57 citizens participated in a 2-day event to learn to monitor invasive species with an instrument…

Assessment is primarily a matter of judgement rather than measurement, yet for too long the nation has been pretending that pupils' attainment and measurement can be measured in increasingly fine detail (one APS "point" being one sixth of an original National Curriculum level). The lack of validity and reliability of this approach…

Conducting individual or group projects in science that are experimental in nature pose several problems for examiners. The criteria for assessing student progress could vary from one person to another. Some guidelines are discussed. (PS)

Describes using Vee maps and concept maps to guide student investigations and for student assessment. Technique focuses on following questions: what do I want to find out? what do I know? how do ideas connect? how do I go about finding answer to my question? what can I make of my findings? and what did I observe and measure? (PR)

Discussed is a method for judging science fair projects considered to be more accurate than just an averaging of scores. The use of many categories so that the number of projects in each is relatively small is proposed. The advantages of using the consensus method are described. (KR)

Given limited funding for school-based science education, non-school-based programs have been developed at colleges and universities to increase the number of students entering science- and health-related careers and address critical workforce needs. However, few evaluations of such programs have been conducted. We report the design and methods of…

This publication is one of 14 modules prepared for pre- and in-service teachers to prepare themselves for teaching individualized and activity-centered Intermediate Science Curriculum Study materials. In this module, an attempt is made to make teachers aware of the main components of a good test. Various statements and activities are given in the…

As a part of the Individualized Teacher Preparation materials, several ideas and suggestions for objective and individual evaluation of student progress are presented in this 1973 version of the module designed for in-service teachers to prepare themselves for teaching the individualized and activity-centered Intermediate Science Curriculum Study…

Discusses measurement techniques developed in the Nuffield A level physical science assessment and statistical results obtained in 1968 and 1971. Concludes that individual projects are contributors of positive and valuable educational experiences to the course. (CC)

This booklet, one part of the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) Individualized Teacher Preparation modular program materials, is designed to present teachers with information concerning issues and alternatives relative to grading and reporting student progress in an individualized instructional setting. The information is presented in…

Describes the evaluation and revision of the O-level Nuffield chemistry student and teacher curriculum materials. Includes a discussion of the rationale for the evaluation process and the methodology used. (JN)

Discusses the need to determine the extent to which NSF-supported curriculum materials have been implemented. Reviews the Concerns Based Adoption Model and describes how science educators might use this model to understand and manage curriculum implementation processes. (DS)

Laboratory exercises from five chemistry curricula were examined to determine organization (integration of laboratory work with other parts of a course) and tasks required of students (assessed in terms of inquiry skills and behaviors required for the laboratory work). Implications and suggestions for instruction are included. (Author/JN)

The three stages of evaluation of the instructional modules of the Crustal Evolution Evaluation Project (CEEP) are described. Self-instructional evaluation procedures were developed and used. These are presently available to science educators through NAGT or the ERIC system. (SA)