The tendency to read for errors is an occupational hazard for writing teachers, but there is something profoundly wrong in measuring progress by measuring the reduction of errors. To begin breaking this habit, teachers must first recognize the fundamental hypocrisy in making correction markings that are at odds with the intended message (i.e.,…

The purpose of this study is to examine an option-weighting method as it affects pass-fail decisions in formative and summative evaluation of student achievement for instructional units, certification, advancement, licensure, admissions, placement, and selection. A database was constructed using high school achievement test data where a…

A brief comparison of secondary school examination methods in England and the Federal Republic of Germany is made. The Abitur, or examination for the leaving certificate of the German grammar school, is explained, and an Abitur and its results at the German School, the Hague, 1974, are described. (RM)

Cooperative learning as a promising approach for higher education is discussed in terms of its relation to active learning, cognitive processing, and personalizing principles and concepts. Preliminary data from experimental classes demonstrated little advantage for a group improvement incentive. While students in the bottom third of these classes…

Procedures used by 55 faculty in the evaluation of students in various academic areas in Indiana University were studied. The majority of respondents taught undergraduates, were male, and were experienced, full-time faculty. Business faculty used primarily essay tests and research papers, while physical science faculty used mostly objective tests,…

Information is provided on the Developmental Education Program offered at Cincinnati Technical College for students who have been accepted conditionally into one of the health, business, or engineering career programs at the college. Sections I and II outline the rationale for and goals of the developmental education program. Section III describes…

The advantages and disadvantages of two common grading methods are presented, and from an analysis of the virtues and vices of these prototypic methods, a set of goals or criteria for grading systems is derived. Percentage and class-curve grading systems are discussed in detail. Criteria for grading systems include the following: obtain relevant…

A study of grading practices at Christopher Newport College (Virginia) was conducted, using as data the grades awarded from 1979 to 1986. Differences between "in-department" and "out-of-department" grades were also analyzed, for all students enrolled in courses in more than one department. Results included the following: (1)…

Based on the idea that a wide range of individualization in the classroom is necessary to both stimulate the students and to meet their needs, this paper presents a complete course in English Literature based on the learning contract system. Included in the paper are a course outline with the objectives and the rules for the class; a title page…

Twenty-seven school journalism teachers who have been honored as "outstanding" by the Newspaper Fund in the last 3 years responded to a survey about how they grade students in production oriented classes. The teachers reported using a variety of grading systems, including subjective decision making, a combination grading system, self-evaluation,…

Fifteen member countries of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) collaborated on a project that had four aims: (1) to contribute to the conceptualization of the domain of writing, (2) to develop an internationally appropriate set of writing tasks and a system for assessing compositions, (3) to describe…

Elements that might be included in a course syllabus are discussed, and reasons for a well-written syllabus are briefly noted. The following syllabus elements are covered: course description, course objectives, course structure, textbook and required materials, recommended optional materials, course schedule, deadlines, evaluation methods, policy…

A school board's proposal to require secondary school students to repeat all required courses in which they received grades of D or F would probably result in significant, unintended increases in enrollment, overcrowding of facilities, and a need to hire many additional staff members. Analysis of the district's current procedures, which deny…

The product of a year-long research process undertaken by a Task Force on Academic Standards at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TCCC) in 1980-81, this report provides background to the deliberations of the Task Force and a presentation of their position on academic standards at TCCC. The report establishes the Task Force's commitments to…