Using data from the same source as that employed in Herrnstein and Murray's book, "The Bell Curve," this study reexamined links between the test scores of mothers and children, paying close attention to what the scores measure and whether these measurements mean the same things for blacks and whites. The study replicated Herrnstein and…

Forms of assessment that are consistent with outcomes based education are discussed. Assessment in service to learning must inform students about their learning, provide data for teachers who plan instruction, inform parents about student progress, and provide data for policymakers. Chapter 1 of this document is "The Implications of…

This paper illustrates the use of rule space as a tool to support cognitive analyses of students' mathematical behavior. The rule space approach is explained and is then used to classify students into one of two methods for solving linear algebraic equations in one unknown and to diagnose their knowledge states in this topic. A 32-item test with…

The Iowa Vocational Assessment System (IVAS) conducted extensive research and developed an assessment model appropriate for use by local education agencies to assess competency-based curriculum. Two school districts requested and administered the Iowa Career Education Inventory with IVAS assistance in administration, scoring, and interpretation of…

Two cases are described in which alternative assessments have been successfully employed in college mathematics. Case 1 describes an alternative assessment applied in a class of 10 elementary school teachers studying Euclidean geometry as required by state teacher-certification requirements. One student asserted that he already had an adequate…

This teacher's guide contains 11 units of instruction for a course on computer electronics and computer-assisted drafting (CAD) using a personal computer (PC). The course covers the following topics: introduction to electronic drafting with CAD; CAD system and software; basic electronic theory; component identification; basic integrated circuit…

This teacher's guide contains nine units of instruction for a course on computer-assisted pipe drafting. The course covers the following topics: introduction to pipe drafting with CAD (computer-assisted design); flow diagrams; pipe and pipe components; valves; piping plans and elevations; isometrics; equipment fabrication drawings; piping design…

The State of Oregon has recently developed teacher licensure standards which go beyond the mastery of knowledge and skills, extend into the area of pupil learning, and employ a portfolio or work sample to focus the attention of university and school district educators on whether the preservice teacher has demonstrated the ability to produce…

This report documents efforts to develop instruments for data-gathering and to train field staff in the use of the instruments, as part of a feasibility study designed to validate a conceptual framework that describes the elements of California's special education prereferral and alternative assessment procedures for ethno-linguistically diverse…

The regression-discontinuity approach to evaluating educational programs is reviewed, and regression-discontinuity post-program mean differences under various conditions are discussed. The regression-discontinuity design is used to determine whether post-program differences exist between an experimental program and a control group. The difference…

As the latest in a series of studies analyzing the data reported on Tennessee's school district report cards, this paper focuses on finding a common statistical treatment to examine the impact of predictor variables on dependent variables. Investigations of the 1988-89 report card data explored the relationships among eight school district…

Using its Academic Excellence Indicator System, Texas has labeled some schools as low performers, giving them a "Priority One" rating for improvement. Principals of low-performing campuses were interviewed to assess the condition of these campuses as communities of learners working to remove the Priority One label. All of the 6 subject…

This guide contains the materials required to teach a competency-based course to develop student awareness and skills relating to specific aspects of housing and home furnishings. It is divided into three sections: an instructor's manual, instructor's resource package and student workbook. The following topics are covered in the 10 instructional…

National assessments of student academic achievement in various subjects and grades are conducted each year in France. However, there is no formal evaluation of student performance in various cross-curriculum domains, such as study skills, self-image, interest in learning, cooperative attitudes, social competence, or civic knowledge and values.…

When the New Zealand Qualifications Authority began designing the National Qualifications Framework, it was discovered that the modular studies program in Tikipunga High School was a model of the type of preparation needed to implement the framework. Characteristics of the Tikipunga modular studies program are as follows: (1) a 6-week semester for…