Identification of objectives, review of texts, assessment of outcomes, and consideration of students are suggested procedures for effective textbook adoption. (Author)

In order to ascertain current assessment practices at final degree level in British university geography departments, 33 departments were surveyed. A model was then developed that conveys the value of using a range of examination techniques to suit particular teaching objectives and experiences. (LBH)

This overview of the Alaska system for test development, scoring, and reporting explored differences and similarities between norm-referenced and standards-based tests. The current Alaska testing program is based on legislation passed in 1997 and 1998, and is designed to meet the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Legislation. In…

This is a report on the 2001 audit of Texas' public community, junior, and technical colleges. The audit was administered to make funding adjustments for the difference between the colleges' estimated and actual contact with students. It analyzes enrollment data submitted by each public two-year college. The report states that each institution is…

This report outlines the major themes of the 2000 annual conference of the Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST), which focused on educational accountability in the 21st century. The conference opened with a panel presentation on the Texas accountability system. This session included a presentation by one of…

This digest provides an overview of the concept of alignment and the role it plays in assessment and accountability systems. It also discusses methodological issues affecting the study of alignment and explores the relationship between alignment and test score interpretation. Alignment refers to the degree of match between test content and subject…

Over the years, the definitions of educational standards have become more varied, and the issue of what standards really mean has become more confusing. The answer to the question, "For whom are content standards developed?" helps determine who takes them seriously. Establishing clear content standards plays a critical role in an…

This document consists of the first 15 consecutive issues of a newsletter published by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs (The Academy), a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The newsletter focuses on providing information and feedback on early childhood programs for early childhood…

Multiple choice tests are widely viewed as the most effective and objective means of assessment. Item development is the central component of creating an effective test, but test developers often do not have the background in item development. This document describes recall, application, and analysis, the three cognitive levels of test items. It…

Public education is threatened as it struggles to keep up with the pace of change in American society. School systems are change prone but are not good at transforming change into improved performance. This book sheds light on why and what might be done about it. Part 1 offers an overview of the current situation in U.S. public schools and…

The purpose of this guide is to articulate a set of questions and issues that campus leaders can review when deciding whether to participate in a given survey or use a specific assessment instrument. The guide also describes some of the major national surveys and assessments. Although the guide does not rate or recommend these services, it…

When used proactively and comprehensively, assessment can be a powerful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of existing programs and practices and for identifying areas for institutional enhancement. This paper describes using the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) and Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) surveys for campus…

This document is a summary of Cypress College's Student Satisfaction Inventory, a nationally normed instrument used to measure student satisfaction on a range of college experiences. Just fewer than 500 students at Cypress College completed the summary in June 2001. Approximately half of the total population surveyed planned to transfer to another…

This paper describes the Work Keys system, a program developed by American College Testing (ACT) to help improve the job skills of the workforce. This project is being conducted with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to examine the extent to which Work Keys assessment information can be used to address the human resources needs for three…

Although teachers may work in the same building for years, they usually have slight knowledge about what goes on in each other's classrooms. In a similar way, there is little knowledge at one school level about what happens at other levels. This book presents a way for teachers to make maps as a way to communicate about curriculum development.…