Specific approaches are proposed to increase collaboration between researchers and practitioners to meet the growing research needs of the nation's schools and to assist in data-based decision-making efforts. A research-practice paradigm is described. (TJH)

Investigated were 17-year-old British students' comments on their previous science education. Satisfying science education entails (1) relevance, coherence and continuity; (2) concern for student needs; (3) and practical work such as inquiry activity. (YP)

Discusses the purposes of assessment of outdoor education in the context of the British national curriculum. Describes objectives of outdoor education: teaching problem solving, awareness of effects of one's actions on others and the environment, and concern for the safety of self and others. Asserts that outdoor educators must help participants…

The implications of international assessments in setting world-class performance standards are explored. Possible uses of recent international assessments as benchmarks against which to compare the achievement of U.S. students are illustrated. Characteristics of international assessments that affect their usefulness as benchmarks are discussed.…

Inferences that might be made from international educational assessments are discussed, considering issues of popular definition and sampling, assessment exercises, background variables, and statistical analyses. International assessments do tell something about academic achievement, but other approaches may provide more cost-effective information…

Reports on a preliminary study of cognitive style and performance of 182 secondary students on the British General Certificate of Secondary Education. Finds that students who tested at an intermediate position on both dimensions of the Wholist-Analytic cognitive style measure did best on the test. (CFR)

Issues affecting measures that are translated or adapted from an initial language or culture to a new one are described. Notions of test validation, fairness, and norms are addressed, and it is argued that such adaptations may be necessary when assessing members of subpopulations of the U.S. culture. (SLD)

This issue contains articles on mathematical modeling of school arithmetic word problems; cognitive load theory; cognitive effects of practical experience for high and low achievers; perspectives of college-bound students on learning mathematics; and training-based assessment of school achievement. (SLD)

Describes a comparative progress analysis of the formulation and implementation of aims and objectives in two traditional nursery schools and two community nurseries providing integrated education, health, and social services, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland. Found that the traditional nursery schools were better organized and more…

Reports results of a study that compared the measurement competencies in student assessment of teachers, counselors, and school administrators. Draws implications for pre- and inservice training for professionals in education. (LKS)

The role of assessment in science education is explored, focusing on summative assessment in British public certificate examinations. Examples of test items are presented to illustrate difficulties in making valid and reliable assessments, and issues with implications for formative assessment are discussed. (SLD)

Results are presented from a study of portfolio use for large-scale assessment in the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) public schools that are more encouraging for the use of this form of assessment than many other studies have been. Requirements for the psychometric integrity of portfolio assessment are discussed. (SLD)

Describes development of qualitative performance indicators for school auditing tool in Scotland. Describes audit's uses and rationale. Describes authors' approach to identifying and isolating qualities of good learning and teaching. Two appendices exemplify performance indicators, subthemes, and descriptors for one secondary-school department.…

The five articles of this special section show that evaluations of corporate education range from state of the art to poorly conceived evaluation research. Several of the efforts reported here incorporate efficient and exemplary use of modern evaluation concepts and techniques and can serve as examples for future evaluations. (SLD)

The capacity of teachers and school districts adequately to assess science-technology-society education efforts in various subject areas and to defend reliability and validity of such instruments will determine the future of STS education. The article outlines general considerations and provides examples of assessment measures in STS education.…