Discussion of student assessment at the college level looks at the relationship between grading and student learning and proposes an alternative system in which letter grades would be replaced with a two-part evaluation by the student and teacher. A practical compromise using letter grades is also outlined. (MSE)

Whether parents of fourth graders (n=285) interpreted mathematics grades with the same meaning as teachers (n=16) who assigned them was studied through questionnaires. Results indicate poor home-to-school communication, with a great deal of inconsistency between teachers' and parents' views. (SLD)

Describes the background and development of an outcome-based educational system for the West Irondequoit (New York) K-12 social studies program. Provides examples of student performance tasks and suggestions for scoring them. Includes a curriculum guide with philosophical assumptions and a list of essential learning outcomes. (CFR)

Reports a study of a gifted and a learning-disabled sixth grader and their constructions of and responses to their physical education teacher's grading practices. Interviews indicated they experienced similar emotional reactions to the physical education environment (frustration and disappointment over their grades and desire to eliminate grades…

Presents the elementary-level formative evaluation method of functional diagnosis that gives students immediate feedback on completed assignments. Gives three examples of the method as observed in the classrooms of master teachers: putting red dots next to problems needing attention; paired learning, and student answer keys. (MDH)

A survey of 17 registrars in colleges and universities using narrative evaluation of students instead of traditional grading investigated the types of institutions using the method, number of narratives generated, variations in form of narrative, history of the systems, methods of collecting and processing, control and limitations, costs, and…

A questionnaire concerning weighted grades in high school honors classes was sent to state directors of gifted education. Findings indicated that 86% of respondents reported their states allowed high schools to use weighted grades. Other findings addressed charges of elitism, public support, and identification of non-European-American children.…

A course in adult education techniques used game design and playing as an instructional method. A follow-up survey found the 11 participants valued the experience, had some difficulty with the group aspect of game development, were stimulated in different ways, felt grading criteria were appropriate, and would use the technique themselves. (MSE)

Studied the meaning that classroom teachers associate with grades, their value judgments, and the role of measurement instruction in their decisions for 40 teachers with and 44 without measurement instruction. Grades are related to student work, and teachers make value judgments when assigning grades. Measurement instruction makes little…

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School administered identical, simultaneous objective structured clinical examinations to large medical school classes and found the method logistically and psychometrically feasible. Potential for use of the test to make pass-fail grading decisions and proposals for modification of administration and…

Describes efforts in a secondary mathematics methods course to make discussions of assessment relevant and accessible for prospective teachers, examining preservice teachers' beliefs regarding assessment and detailing steps to help move them from these initial beliefs to ones more consistent with the philosophy expressed in recent reform.…

Despite dramatic evolution during the past decade, assessment of student performance still has issues to address which present important challenges for educators and may determine whether assessment ultimately succeeds or fails. The three issues are evaluating students, applying assessment innovations (holistic scoring and portfolio assessment),…

Reasons for a national shift from traditional to alternative assessment practices are examined, and the philosophical beliefs and theoretical assumptions of traditional and alternative assessment are examined. Classroom implications of this paradigm shift for instructional strategies, formative and summative evaluation, development of rubrics used…

A study of features of men's and women's English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) compositions (linguistic accuracy, readability, conformity to assignment guidelines) among a group of junior college students in Quebec found the two groups' writing of comparable linguistic quality. Superior marks received by women were found attributable to the way they…

Reports on a study of 380 students and 18 instructors that examined the effects of gender and expected course grades on faculty evaluation. Finds that (1) female instructors were rated better than males; (2) expected course grades significantly affected the ratings students gave; and (3) female students gave better ratings than males did.…