Eight articles are included in this collection. Topics include: multicultural science, teaching science with metaphors, development of a graded assessment scheme in science, relative performance of boys and girls in chemistry, promoting science understanding, formative evaluations, science background of primary teachers, and promoting creativity…

Surveyed 1200 students in a second semester general chemistry course at Purdue. Investigates areas where student and faculty perceptions of the content of chemistry courses differ. Elaborates on each area and suggests explanations for the findings involved. (MVL)

Analyzes critical problems associated with teaching world studies. Cautions that failure to conceptualize courses has lead to an overemphasis on either general or concrete material and lack of instructional diversity. Suggests methodology for conceptualizing courses. Points out the conflicting demands made upon a well conceptualized social studies…

Reports on a study investigating the effects of conceptual models (computer graphics and animation) on learning and transfer of code evaluation and generation skills of novice programmers; changes in declarative knowledge during skill acquisition; relationships between the quality of subjects' mental models and performance in skill learning and…

To explore the effects that changing to performance-based assessment has had on sex differences in science achievement that had been observed with traditional tests, 3 studies involving more than 906 elementary school students compared scores of males and females on performance-based tests. Few gender differences were found. (SLD)

Different models of performance assessment arise from interactions of three dimensions of assessment: the measurement versus the standards model of testing, quantitative and qualitative assumptions concerning the nature of learning, and whether learning and testing are situated or decontextualized. Addresses difficulties in implementing…

Supports the idea that second language teachers should "teach the test," provided that such tests meet the criteria of authentic assessment. Authentic assessment focuses on constructivist learning and communicative tasks; the integration of teaching, learning, and assessment; quality and coverage of content; and quality and fairness of standards.…

Contends that an interdisciplinary curriculum and cooperative learning are well suited to middle school students. Asserts that the approaches help students learn higher order thinking skills and improve social skills. Maintains that authentic or performance-based assessment is appropriate for these techniques and this age group. (CFR)

Attitudes of gifted students placed in homogeneous classes were compared to students not identified as gifted in regular heterogeneous classes. Student perceptions of themselves as learners, student perceptions of teachers' behaviors and expectations, and academic achievement were assessed for 105 students in grades 5 and 8. (SW)

Examined differences in children's perceptions of school tasks. Found that even kindergarten children are able to understand the learning purpose of tasks if teachers include that information in their lesson presentations. Results suggest that in order to motivate children's learning, teachers should emphasize the learning aspects of tasks, and…

Forty-eight general education and 48 special education students (grades 3-6) were rated by general education teachers, and 75 students were rated again 1 year later. Significant differences between students successful and unsuccessful in mainstream environments were found on socioeconomic status and social/behavioral variables (peer relationships,…

This report describes a self-management skills intervention utilizing a picture schedule for four high school students with moderate to severe mental retardation. The program was initiated at school and continued at home with different tasks. Students continued to successfully use the schedules on follow up after summer vacation. (DB)

Four articles address traditional mediation in library services, including the librarian as mediator, the reference librarian as information intermediary, recommitment to patrons' information needs, and mediation in reference service to extend patron success. (87 references) (LRW)

In the mid-1980s, data were collected on international science achievement as part of the Second International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement Science Study. The seven articles of this collection report on various facets of the practical skills testing of this study in which six countries participated. (SLD)

Describes adaptation of a questionnaire on teacher interaction to map cooperating teachers' behavior and relationships between their interpersonal behavior and student teachers' satisfaction with supervision. Student teachers completed the Questionnaire on Supervisor Interaction (QSI) and Student Teacher Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results found…