Complex social changes and criticisms of schooling have had an impact on the authority of the teacher in the classroom. (JD)

Examines Israeli teacher autonomy in a centrally developed high school curriculum. Describes how teachers view this shift of control and the 50 percent assessment-by-teacher system. Concludes teacher autonomy is not necessarily dependent on the system being noncentralist and that guided freedom increases teacher power and potential effectiveness.…

Discusses findings of a survey of college students' preferences in teacher-written evaluations of final drafts. Using results of the survey and other research, makes the following suggestions for improved teacher student communication: (1) omit grades, (2) balance praise with criticism, and (3) resist the impulse to dominate student texts. (JG)

Discusses some of the myths surrounding grading on the curve. Provides a simple explanation of such statistical terms as histograms, relative frequency, normal distribution, mean, and standard deviation. Describes how to restructure the curve, including the program listing for a computer program that will assist the teacher. (TW)

Examines how teacher evaluation effects students' willingness and motivation and hence the writing process. Analyzes results of a survey measuring student responses to several kinds of evaluation of their essays. Concludes that informal evaluation (e.g. peer evaluation, conferences, ungraded writing) improves students' attitudes. (JG)

Introduces a system for grading independent research projects. Recommends the use of three grading periods to avoid the overload of the grading duties in short periods and to provide students step by step guides. Shows an outline of the system including due dates, duties and grading criteria. (YP)

The University of Western Ontario's Clinical Grading System was developed to improve assessment of speech-language pathology students' performance in clinical practicum. The system permits flexibility in weighting the contribution of particular skills to the final grade, allows for grading over an entire practicum, and provides profiles of…

Reports a study of the interrelationship between grade inflation and student evaluation ratings. Findings indicated that unadjusted student evaluations are inappropriate determinants of tenure or promotion. An adjustment procedure to remedy the problem is presented. R.C. Scott criticizes Zangenehzadeh's model and proposes a different one.…

Differential grading standards were examined in a sample of 1,029 Dartmouth College graduates. Fields of study that attracted students (as majors) who scored higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) employed stricter grading standards. These differential standards attenuated the substantial correlation between SAT scores and grades.…

Discusses a study of the extent to which the use of 21 grading criteria was comparable among community college and university English faculty. Reports no differences in criteria selected for normal grading situations. Indicates that university faculty gave more importance to "adherence to due dates" in borderline situations. (DMM)

Students in two introductory psychology classes using a personalized system of instruction were assigned to either daily quizzing or self-initiated quizzing treatment conditions. Results showed students in the daily quizzing section completed course work more rapidly and earned higher grades by reducing procrastination. (Author/JDH)

Israeli elementary school teachers graded a handwritten worksheet allegedly written by an "excellent" or a "weak" student. This ability labeling caused a significant expectancy bias effect. The effects of teachers' ethnic origins, preferred teaching methods, teaching experience, and views on Israeli school integration on…

Describes Newfoundland's method of identifying discrepancies among high school graduation marks and the consequences for students of adjustments made to reduce the differences. Notes effect of size of school, random error, and influence of school or teacher on differences. Considers three sets of assumptions necessary for the analysis. (SB)

Decries the narrow focus of teachers' comments on technique at the expense of content in students' essays. (HTH)

A special workshop at Coppin State for students who succeed in the freshman remedial mathematics course but fail on the final test is described. The two-week review provides a relaxed atmosphere, a tutoring format encouraging more active participation, and a test-anxiety workshop. (MSE)