Focuses on criteria reference testing in art education. Offers an example of how the author used this in a classroom. States that the students created a shadow-box drawing of a box with hanging objects. Explains that the lesson is designed to test their drawing, shading, and composition skills. (CMK)

Discussion of portfolios as authentic assessment measures focuses on a review of schools requiring portfolios for Master of Library Science programs that identified commonalities among programs. Analyzed documents at Web sites to determine that at least 14 ALA-accredited programs use portfolio assessment for evaluation of student performance,…

Reports on interviews with six headteachers of Roman Catholic primary schools on the composition and responsibilities of their senior management teams. Findings explore the reasons for the schools' success and, in particular, the centrality of the Catholic faith and the practice of the senior management teams. (Contains 23 references.) (MLF)

Highlights rationales for having systematic merit salary administration, and presents guidelines for introducing such a system. Discusses using the Salary Model (a menu-driven software package that allows administrators to compare activities of one faculty member to others) as one aspect of a merit salary system. (MM)

This paper establishes a conceptual framework for assessing problem-solving abilities of gifted secondary students. Assessment procedures based on a continuum of problem types are described. Issues discussed include multiple types of intelligence, the use of multiple measures, sensitivity to individual differences, and assessment for the student's…

This discussion of authentic assessment stresses that such assessment should be contextual (based on the context of meaning), collaborative (involves learners), and constructive (supports risk-taking). It compares tools designed for formative assessment including criteria checklists, "kidwatching," profiles, conferences, and portfolios. (DB)

Projects and investigations, which provide evidence of communication in mathematics, are discussed as a means to the direct assessment of the true objectives of the curriculum. Included are discussions of appropriate assessment, authentic assessment, and assessment of oral communication. (23 references) (Author/MKR)

This study evaluated 4 types of assessment with 74 fourth-grade students with and without learning disabilities (LD) in general education classrooms. Students with and without LD performed more strongly on the hands-on tasks than the paper-and-pencil measures; the facilitative effect of hands-on assessment was greater for students with LD and…

Discusses the role and consistency of judges' interpretations of teacher performance as part of an evaluative scheme for complex performance, with reference to the ideological framework of professional standards. The tension between assessment decisions and the recognition that assessment involves interpretation is explored. (SLD)

Explains how working on a student newspaper provides students with real-life writing situations that make composition practice, which students usually begrudge, automatic and necessary. Reviews four aspects of putting a newspaper together: brainstorming, researching, drafting, and publishing. (TB)

The application of generalizability theory to the reliability and error variance estimation for performance assessment scores is discussed. Decision makers concerned with performance assessment need to realize the restrictions that limit generalizability such as limitations that lead to reductions in the number of tasks possible, rater quality,…

Describes a laboratory activity "Observing Reactions in Solution." The activity can be used either as a laboratory or as a performance assessment for a high school chemistry class. (PR)

Reviews seven computer applications for science assessment including conventional, multiple-choice, constructed-response, adaptive, figural response, simulation, and an emerging approach to performance assessment termed solution pathway analysis. Virtually all computer-based testing systems are found to improve the quality and efficiency of record…

Discusses the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and its plan for voluntary national certification of elementary and secondary teachers. Suggests reasons for the lack of national standards for teachers in the past. Describes a proposed certification system that involves performance-based evaluations and an emphasis on independence…

Describes the use of the observational checklist as an alternative assessment method. Suggests scoring rubrics should be developed to allow students and teachers to understand what standards are expected. Example scoring rubrics for drawing conclusions, creating motion, and group/cooperation skills are presented. (PR)