The relationship of teachers' allocation of time to individual student achievement was studied. It was concluded that teachers prefer to increase students' average achievement rather than to decrease the variance in achievement within the classroom. (MH)

A survey to determine the use of student ratings of instruction in medical education is reported. Results indicate that student ratings are widely used, that both standardized and nonstandardized forms are used, that ratings are often administered exclusively by one agent, and that administrators often have access to results. (JMD)

The study investigated the effects of interspersing known items during spelling instruction on new words for three moderately to severely mentally retarded male students (ages 19 to 24). Results showed that high density reinforcement did facilitate performance over baseline; however, interspersal training was superior to the other conditions in…

A theory of motivation based upon attributions of causality for success and failure is offered. Three central causal dimensions are identified: stability, locus, and control; these dimensions, respectively, are linked with expectancy change, esteem-related emotions, and interpersonal judgments. A theory of motivation with implications for…

First-year veterinary medicine students were surveyed during the first and last week of class to determine if student ratings of instructors are free of bias from generalized attitudes. The tabulated results indicate that the students were not biased by preconceived opinions of instructors. (BH)

Studies are reported which attempt to discover the exact level of second language proficiency reached by students in second language immersion programs, with emphasis on analysis of error. (RM)

Competency-Based Instruction (CBI) is a model for professional education with potentially significant implications for rehabilitation counselor training. A simple description of the basic concepts of CBI is presented together with several related issues and potential benefits. (Author)

Changes in the college and university environment (oversimplified instructional materials, demand for detailed instructions, avoidance of challenge in curricula, overuse of student evaluation of faculty) suggest that in their efforts to recruit and retain students, institutions have promoted students' increased intellectual dependency. This…

Describes an organized set of materials prospective school health educators should develop to accurately represent their newly acquired skills and competencies. The portfolio should include cooperating teacher evaluations, videotapes of teaching episodes, examples of their work, samples of assessment instruments, statements of philosophy, examples…

This paper explains the development of a National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education project to move the professional accreditation process to one which focuses primarily on the performance of candidates and institutions. It discusses program quality review and notes possible differences between the current system and such a system in…

A survey of 859 school psychologists who indicated prior experience conducting bilingual psychoeducational assessment identified 36 factors used to comply with provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act relating to assessing bilingual or limited-English-proficient students. Seventeen additional factors that were overlooked and…

A University of Washington study that found professors who are easy graders receive better evaluations than those who are tougher, and another study showing faculty enthusiasm alone raises student evaluations, have shaken a long-standing consensus among researchers that student evaluations are a good measure of a teacher's skills. Most…

Critiques William Mehrens' 1992 article on performance assessment, claiming that Mehrens professes to favor performance assessment but only as an afterthought to traditional assessment, and Mehrens' view of traditional assessment limits his portrayal of performance assessment. The paper encourages the research community to support performance…

Uses oral-language skills assessment to illustrate sound classroom assessment practices, stressing interrelationships among teaching, learning, and assessment and viewing assessment as a continual, ongoing reference in a dynamic process, not an end in itself. Describes supportive classroom environments, explains oral language profiles, and…