The role of self-perceptions in peer selection was examined among seventh-graders and third-graders. Findings indicated that when evaluations (supposedly of unfamiliar peers) related to specific competence domains, seventh-graders preferred positive peers to negative peers, whereas third-graders selected peers who viewed them as they viewed…

Describes how a version of the Tuckman Teacher Feedback Form (TTFF) was used to measure teachers'"personality" factors as perceived by students. The instrument included 28 sets of bipolar adjectives to use in describing the teacher. Findings revealed that the application of technology to instruction improved students' perceptions of…

Recommends including essay questions on state economics examinations to prevent misclassification of students. Briefly reviews the literature arguing that certain groups of students do poorly on multiple choice tests. Discusses California's experience with adopting a combined-format type test. (MJP)

Production of 19 word-initial two-segment consonant clusters was examined in 12 children (ages 6-16) with cochlear implants, including 6 using oral communication and 6 using total communication. Results showed that 48% of the clusters were correctly produced (75% correct for oral communication users and 21% correct for total communication users).…

Using a production-functions approach, analyzes data from the National Assessment of Economic Education to investigate whether spending more on high school economics courses improves student performance measured by the Test of Economic Literacy (TEL). Delineates procedure. Results show direct allocation of resources produces improved student…

Explores the myth that female children perform poorly in school. Claims that teachers use negative language in evaluation of females, regardless of performance; thus legitimatizing the exclusion of females and supporting patriarchy. Discusses problems of women in academia and concludes that the empowerment of women threatens male academic…

Explores what it means to think in a target language, discusses those factors determining planned and unplanned use of more than one language for thinking, considers the role of target-language thinking in improving language ability, and examines mental translation in the reading of intermediate college French. The article concludes that benefits…

The career paths, geographic mobility, domestic responsibilities, work roles, and self-reported professional performance levels were compared for 219 men and women faculty at Australian universities. Results indicated significant gender-related differences in most of these areas and have implications for representation of women in Australia's…

Reports on a study of 29 students of deductive logic that compared instructor-supplied and computer-supplied diagnostic feedback used with computer-assisted instruction programs. Dependent measures included exam performance, class attendance and responsiveness, and attitudes toward the instructor, computers, other students, and the course.…

Argues that synergy between computer-based instruction and automated assessment is possible because of the common needs in assessment and instruction; outlines a framework for characterizing performance; and examines procedures developed as part of an ongoing project to develop fully automated scoring of architectural design for a licensing exam.…

Examines the function of schooling as constituted in the interactional sequences of routine testing events. Demonstrates that classroom testing represents a critical activity through which the grouping of students is accomplished. Suggests that the differentiation of both homogeneous and heterogeneous school populations is a necessary by-product…

A 1993 National Study of High School Restructuring surveyed principals of 3,380 high schools concerning restructuring elements being used. Although 10-15% of U.S. schools are being restructured, few are simultaneously employing key elements (performance standards, authentic assessment, interdisciplinary curriculum, school-based decision making,…

An ethnographic study of one elementary bilingual special education classroom found three profile types of students, ranging from severe language learning disabilities to normal abilities. Results show the inadequacy of the medical model and support a contextual performance view that acknowledges the role of instructional context in revealing the…

Presents the science demonstration assessment as an authentic- assessment technique to assess whether students understand basic science concepts and can use them to solve problems. Uses rubrics to prepare students for the assessment and to assign final grades. Provides examples of science demonstration assessments and the scoring of rubrics in the…

Presented are assessment techniques to help improve instruction. Included are the formative assessment techniques observation and questioning, diagnostic interviews, and problem-solving-based investigations and the summative assessment technique of performance-based tasks. Examples of these methods are provided together with at-home activities…