This handbook, in two parts, constitutes a manual prepared by the American Federation of Teachers, for improving teachers' use of standardized tests. Part I outlines basic concepts and issues surrounding standardized testing for teachers, parents and school administrators. The terms norm-referenced tests, criterion referenced tests, minimum…

This self-instructional module on improving employee selection, training, and supervision is the tenth in a set of twelve modules designed for small business owner-managers. Competencies for this module are (1) describe the three-step approach to selecting effective employees and (2) describe two of the most important characteristics possessed by…

A variety of terms related to test bias or test fairness have been used in a variety of ways, but in this document the "fair use of tests" is defined as equitable selection procedures by means of intact tests, and "test item bias" refers to the study of separate items with respect to the tests of which they are a part. Seven…

The title reflects the first and major article in an issue of this newsletter devoted heavily to video technology. The flexible capabilities of videotape used with microteaching are presented and illustrated with case studies of childhood education and rural health development programs in Nigeria, improvement of nurses' communication skills, and…

Criterion-referenced and norm-referenced tests are compared, and norm-referenced tests are found to have inadequacies as a basis for evaluation or instructional improvement. Disadvantages of norm-referenced tests, which measure a student's performance relative to the performance of other students, are: (1) mismatches between local curriculum and…

Papers presented at the Military Testing Association Conference focused on technical information and experience in the area of personnel management. Papers were contributed by representatives of American and foreign business, educational, and military communities. Topics for the 17 sections comprising the conference were: (1) Occupational surveys;…

The use of nontraditional adolescent literature in the secondary classroom and teacher training for this usage are discussed in this paper. After outlining a humanistic approach to adolescent literature, in which students are taught to use literature to illuminate their lives, the paper contrasts such an approach to the teaching of traditional…

This study focuses on reasons for the perceived superiority of mission senior high schools in contrast to private and government senior high schools in Liberia, West Africa. Since an effective principal may be equated with an effective school, the study examines background preparation, experience, and professional characteristics of Liberian…

An assessment of the training needs of Broward County, Florida, employers was conducted: (1) to determine the existing training needs of large businesses, industrial firms, and local units of government; (2) to determine which educational agencies in the county could fulfill these needs; and (3) to inform the companies of the results in order to…

The study compared two adult education standards used to determine Louisiana student eligibility for taking the General Educational Development (GED) test. Of the initial 590 students, 516 remained as study participants. The traditional standard, Standard 1, required the student to earn 13.0 on the California Achievement Test (CAT) with no area…

This two-part report reviews the implementation and operation of a student counseling program conducted during 1977-78 in the developmental studies division of Southeastern Community College (SCC) with funds provided by the Exxon Education Foundation. Part I discusses: (1) the impact of the program on the college's counseling philosophy, (2) the…

This guide was designed to help parents of preschool children utilize high quality children's literature to enhance communication between parents and children. The first section focuses on informal educational techniques parents can use with their preschool children. Specific topics examined include story reading and story telling, intellectual…

The Teacher Performance Assessment Instruments (TPAI) were designed to determine (for certification purposes) how well teachers can demonstrate certain minimum teaching skills considered essential to effective teaching. An analysis of the five instruments which compose the TPAI is presented. The topics of the five instruments are: teaching plans…

MEMBERS OF THE EVALUATION SECTION OF HARVARD PROJECT PHYSICS, DESCRIBING WHAT IS SAID TO BE THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO SELECT A NATIONAL RANDOM SAMPLE OF (HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS) TEACHERS, LIST THE STEPS AS (1) PURCHASE OF A LIST OF PHYSICS TEACHERS FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (MOST COMPLETE AVAILABLE), (2) SELECTION OF 136 NAMES BY A…

TO DETERMINE MAJOR FACTORS AFFECTING SELECTION AND PERFORMANCE OF SUPERVISORS IN SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS, DATA WERE ANALYZED FROM A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR EVALUATION FORM FOR 219 ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL (79.3 PERCENT OF 276 TOTAL), REPRESENTING LARGE CITY, MEDIUM CITY, SMALL CITY, AND CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. APPLYING…