Despite the ease of accessing a wide range of measures, little attention is given to validity arguments when considering whether to use the measure for a new purpose or in a different context. Making a validity argument has historically focused on the intended interpretation and use. There has been a press to consider both the intended and actual…

In this article, the authors suggest a number of ways in which NAPLAN could be made into a more engaging and enriching experience for both teachers and students. They highlight the importance of making productive errors in the interests of furthering learning. The authors share the journey they have taken as they attempted to get their teeth into…

We examined the relationship between pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) test scores and elementary school teachers' psychological variables, conceptions of teaching and learning and test utilization strategy, for mathematics. Through a web-based survey, participants responded to a six-item descriptive PCK test and to inventories of conceptions of…

This research is a developmental research aiming at developing a good mathematical test instrument using polytomous responses based on classical and modern theories. This research design uses the Plomp model, which consists of five stages, (1) preliminary investigation, (2) design, (3) realization/construction, (4) revision, and (5) implementation…

David Thissen is a professor in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Quantitative Program at the University of North Carolina. His research interests include psychological testing, measurement, and item response theory. Here Thissen expresses his gratitude to Howard Wainer for his illuminating discussion of the oral presentation upon…

This article describes a study, from a Canadian technical institute's upgrading mathematics course, where students played a role in developing the final closed-book exam that they sat. The study involved a process where students developed practice exams and solutions keys, students sat each other's practice exams, students evaluated classmates'…

This article reviews the development of the Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments (EGRA and EGMA), which are locally tailored, timely assessments designed to directly inform policy and instruction for learning improvement, particularly for countries on the lower end of the income spectrum. The history of the design and implementation of…

To help teachers improve their efficiency and effectiveness, this dissertation study uses regression analysis to assess two middle Georgia counties' CRCT and Math 1 EOCT data in order to determine the usability of the CRCT to enhance instruction in Math 1. Data were collected from the 2009 and 2010 CRCT administrations and the 2010 and 2011 EOCT…

In this article we rethink validation within the complex contexts of high-stakes assessment. We begin by considering the utility of existing models for validation and argue that these models tend to overlook some of the complexities inherent to assessment use, including the multiple interpretations of assessment purposes and the potential…

Based on the results of a generalizability study of measures of teacher knowledge for teaching mathematics developed at the National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing at the University of California, Los Angeles, this article provides evidence that teachers are better at drawing reasonable inferences about student…

Longitudinal case studies of seven teachers in grades three, four, and five were conducted to determine teachers' use of curriculum-embedded tests in elementary mathematics instruction. Results indicated that among the three ways tests are used (student placement, content decisions, and student evaluation), student placement provided the most…

Investigates the diverse effects reactions to the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) have had on mathematics curricula and teaching methods in 23 participating countries. The attention paid to TIMSS results varied greatly in these countries. (SLD)

At the request of the Massachusetts Department of Education, Achieve, Inc., conducted an evaluation of the state's K-12 mathematics standards and grade 10 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in English language arts and mathematics during the spring and summer of 2001. The state's English Language Arts standards were not…

Examined reports by mathematics teachers of their degree of familiarity with various standards and assessments, then compared these reports with teachers' reports of their instructional practices in the classroom. Teacher awareness of state curriculum guides and state assessments has increased since 1995. (SLD)

Reviews the Curriculum Referenced Tests of Mastery that are intended to measure achievement, with the emphasis on measuring what a student has learned rather than predicting future success in school, concluding that the tests are worthy of consideration by any district. (HOD)