This volume, part two of "The Hidden Curriculum," is premised on the belief that testing practices influence educational procedures and learning outcomes. Graduate level science educators shared their assessment techniques in terms of the following categories: (1) exam design; (2) exam format; (3) exam environment; and (4) grading practices.…

Successful reform of science education requires careful orchestration of a number of factors including technological developments, organizational issues, teacher preparation and enhancement, and advances in the scientific disciplines themselves. Exemplary innovations in exam practices that assess scientific understanding in new and more…

Describes a study which explored some difficulties related to technical and nontechnical vocabulary and the structure of the examination questions in electrochemistry. Includes results from a sample of 1,500 students in the fourth forms. (DS)

After discussing task-specific information and form/content dissociation, presents evidence from training studies which suggests ways in which the form/content distinction might guide researchers in designing diagnostic measures leading to specific instructional strategies based on the diagnostics. (Author/JN)