This study investigated the effectiveness of using a computer program over six weeks to teach high school students to use Latin and Greek root words for deciphering English terms in order to increase their scores on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Results indicated that knowledge of Latin and Greek root words improved students'…

Developmental and criterion reading and writing measures were administered to 300 primary-level students, revealing that elimination of IQ in the definition of learning disabilities would dramatically affect who is identified as learning disabled. A two-stage assessment model analyzing absolute criteria without IQ and relative criteria with IQ is…

This article proposes that to assess students' preparedness to deliver pharmaceutical care, pharmacy schools have experiential evaluation systems consisting of multiple assessment methods, guidelines for optimal use, and procedures to promote faculty-student communication about performance. Objective structured clinical examinations,…

Maintains that alternative assessment puts a student in the role of a teacher preparing for a lesson. Asserts that students need different types of resources to foster student curiosity, provide direction, and support exploration. Provides a nine-item annotated bibliography of books, book series, and graphic collections. (CFR)

Describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a computer-assisted learning (CAL) package called CLEM (CORE Learning Environment for Modula-2) that was developed in Great Britain for teaching the Modula-2 programming language to first-year college students. Topics discussed include interactivity, flexibility, ease of use, student…

A study compared two methods of rating medical students' performances on history and physical examination: using checklists completed by standardized patients (SPs) and databases completed by students. Results of each method were correlated with ratings of students by three physicians for each SP-student encounter. Results showed checklists…

Examines ways to involve language students in the test-making process. Discusses student-generated test items, test goals, outdoor paired vocabulary testing, interactive grading, and peer testing. Argues that student learning is more important than test scores. (nine references) (MDM)

This study compared a variety of outcome measures for eighth-grade students with special needs integrated into regular social studies classes. Students with special needs performed similarly to regular education peers on multiple-choice facts tests, multiple-choice problem-solving tests, and short problem-solving essays, but performed…

Argues that examinations and assignments shape the way students learn, read, write, and think, and that authentic testing is the most powerful step toward improved student learning. Assignments must pose real questions addressed by practitioners in the discipline in question, must make scholarly sense, and must challenge students to perform rather…

Describes the work of a team of university and public school mathematics educators to design mathematics assessment tasks that are effective for at-risk students. Perspectives are offered on the need for alternative mathematics assessment and the dangers inherent in the undertaking. Practical design considerations are discussed. (SLD)

Research and evaluation done in relation to the Israel High School Biology Project (IHBP) are summarized. The IHBP is located at a university and directed by university faculty but maintains direct contact with schools. The IHBP is characterized by its attention to ongoing evaluation. (SLD)

Provides an overview of articles included in this issue that address automatic evaluation of public service announcements about AIDS that are aimed at high-risk, low-literacy individuals; how children construe television programs; the concept of quality in broadcasting; and the use of video for inservice teacher training. (LRW)

Includes five articles that discuss (1) outcomes assessment in higher education; (2) the librarian's role in academic assessment and accreditation; (3) what library skills to teach high school students; (4) an innercity high school library programs; and (5) accountability for bibliographic instruction programs in academic libraries. (69…

Researchers investigated the extent to which elementary student teacher evaluation forms used by teacher training institutions embodied evaluative criteria identified by teacher effectiveness research. Reviews of 368 programs' forms indicated significant variability and a need for clear conceptualization of elementary teacher training programs.…

Review of 11 studies of health professions curricula incorporating training in professional self-assessment found initial student disorientation and distrust to be common. However, among successful programs both noncognitive and cognitive benefits appeared. Results suggest that self-assessment training promotes more mature, collegial, productive…