Investigated elementary teachers' assessment and grading practices. Teachers conceptualized six factors when grading students, emphasizing academic performance and achievement- enabling behaviors. Teachers used three types of assessments: constructed-response, objective, and teacher-made major examinations. They differentiated between recall and…

A paper by Gow and Kember suggesting that higher education does not promote independent learning and that students' use of deeper cognitive processes diminishes during higher education is criticized for not considering the method, frequency, and perceived importance of evaluation and grading practices more thoroughly. Authors of the original paper…

Discusses a "write-back" strategy for use when there is insufficient class time for conferencing with peers or the teacher. Notes that the teacher agrees to respond to students' drafts within 24 hours. Discusses 3 options available to students: (1) write back/respond; (2) edit; and (3) writing back. (RS)

Many educators are concerned about grades, particularly about the competitiveness they engender, about their weakness in predicting future success, and about the discouraging effect they have on less successful students. Appended is the grading system at the School Without Walls in Rochester, New York, where grades have been nearly eliminated. (SI)

An experimental study of 170 undergraduate biology students at a suburban community college revealed that the final evaluation of these students was based more heavily on verbal and written aspects of biology than on practical application of concepts. (IAH)

Addresses the challenge of finding or creating alternatives to tests and traditional grading systems. Reflects on and describes the experience of creating an assessment tool and cautions against choosing alternatives that merely camouflage the grades. Encourages educators to find authentic alternatives to describe children's growth. (BAC)

This article examines the myths and realities surrounding grading for gifted students, drawing on educational research and anecdotal experience. It contends that current grading systems tend to lack psychometric validity and reliability, that schools should embrace national standards, and that higher order thinking skills should be emphasized in…

The history of grading offers little support for current grading practices. Alternative methods such as mastery, student self-comparison, contracting, multiple grades, and the point system should be examined in the context of philosophical issues to determine new grading policies. (SK)

Maintains that putting a number or letter grade on student writing is fundamentally wrong. Argues that trashing the traditional grading system is the best thing that could be done to ensure better reading and writing among students. (SR)

Outlines a method used for teaching brochure writing in nine one-hour class periods. Discusses grading, and notes ways that students benefit from brochure writing. (SR)

Principals are responsible for improving the grading and marking systems in their schools. School administrators should provide leadership for designing, revising, and validating grading systems that meet sound measurement principles, are applied uniformly, and match local needs. This article reviews definitions, operational principles, legal…

One approach to writing across the curriculum--microthemes--involves short writing assignments such as summary writing, thesis support, inductive reasoning, and quandary posing. Using microthemes in accounting can ease the burden for instructors trying to provide useful evaluative feedback to improve student writing. (SK)

Discusses ways to evaluate students' photographs, offering descriptions from a number of professors and professionals of their approaches. Includes an evaluation exercise, a photo assignment sheet, and three critique or grade sheets outlining criteria for photo evaluation. (SR)

Examines three elementary teachers' conceptions about mathematics assessment in the context of their practice. Teachers' beliefs are shaped by externally defined functions and purposes of assessment; what teachers perceive as the official school curriculum and their position with regard to subject matter; and how they understand learning and…

Describes a semester-long work team project designed to develop team behaviors and skills, such as collaboration, listening, problem solving, decision making, action planning, leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. Recommends that teaching collective processes must reward collective processes, that projects should be meaningful and…