Describes an assessment scheme in Hong Kong and investigates the degree of implementation of school-based assessment for practical science. Identifies five dimensions of implementation and uses three measuring instruments: (1) a student questionnaire; (2) a teacher questionnaire and (3) an observation schedule. Comparative analyses resulted in…

Argues that the key distinction of a situated approach to studying intelligent behavior is not the method used but the focus of the investigation, specifically the unit of analysis. Discusses contemporary approaches to assessment, collaborative problem solving as an assessment context, situated assessment, intentional dynamics, and interaction as…

Explores the relationship between academic assessment and assessment of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) for health professionals in Britain. Examines the relationship between competence and excellence or expertise and the development of reflective practitioners. Raises concerns about using NVQs in professional occupations. (SK)

Explores specific features of present evaluation practices in higher education that could render them capable of resolving the contradiction in purposes between accountability and institutional improvement. Also explores particular features of institution-level "good practice" in the use of information that external quality-assurance…

Reports on a study of Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) inspection reports for Norfolk (England) state secondary schools. Analyzes the reports and concludes that inconsistencies in inspectors' reporting, particularly of spirituality across the broader curriculum, meant that the mechanisms for assessment and for raising standards were…

Tests are used for making decisions about students, including decisions about promotion, in-grade retention, and high school graduation. This article provides criteria for evaluating the technical quality of tests used for high-stakes decisions in education. The intent is to provide educators with information for evaluating their testing program.…

School counselors are responsible for addressing social and personal issues, educational issues, and the career needs of students. Recent emphasis on high-stakes testing and school accountability has resulted in counselors focusing more of their time on schoolwide testing programs. A statewide survey provided information on counselors' attitudes…

Discusses the educational legacy of Hilda Taba's work, especially her 1962 book "Curriculum Development: Theory and Practice." Highlights Taba's process for selecting content. (Contains 21 references.) (PKP)

Identifies definitions and types of informal learning. Examines issues such as the utility of informal learning, the processes involved, and the lack of methods to assess the quality of learning acquired informally. (SK)

Reviews three professional resources which discuss the issue of the best time to present specific components of the language arts curriculum. (MG)

Discusses curtailing the misuse and misinterpretation of standardized tests, and suggests ways to improve existing tests while reviewing the Test of Early Reading Ability-2, Tests of Reading Comprehension, and Effective Reading Tests. (MG)

The book reviewed is a compendium of current thinking about measurement theory and test use. It includes content by 26 authors at 3 levels: (1) accessible to educators, policy makers, and graduate students; (2) suited for technical students; and (3) written for qualified measurement specialists. Strengths and weaknesses are noted. (SLD)

Characteristics/roles of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) were compared to those of other, similar professional organizations, using data from 24 completed informal surveys. The other organizations include American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and Association for Measurement and…

Reviews two tests which highlight important trends in the assessment of learning disabilities, and presents potentially valuable, practical developments in assessment. Identifies the recurring problem of the lack of a theory, construct, or clear definition to guide the assessment of learning disabilities. (MG)

Analyzing growth rates and percentiles of achievement are two ways that school systems can evaluate school performance. Boards should also consider parent-teacher satisfaction, internal management systems, school board evaluation, and a number of other indicators. (MLF)