A survey of over 700 Ontario secondary schools was conducted in 1987 and again in 1989 to determine the current status of computer programing pedagogy. Presents an overview of the computer education curriculum for grades 10-12 and results related to hardware utilization, choice of programing languages, availability of teacher and student…

Presents instructional methods biology teachers can use to make their presentations more interesting. Author describes variety of methods for introducing lesson on the heart and discusses use of metaphors, form, models, and fractals in instruction pertaining to circulatory system. Presents idea of using Capon's "The Supper of the Lamb"…

Presents information on a standards-based assessment for student laboratory work. Four criteria--planning and design, experimental execution, observation of changes, and interpretation and explanation--are presented along with standards for assessment of laboratory performance. Describes the benefits of teachers enunciating both criteria and…

Argues that the derivation of the area of a circle using integral calculus is invalid. Describes the derivation of the area of a circle when the formula is not known by inscribing and circumscribing the circle with regular polygons whose areas converge to the same number. (MDH)

Clarifies the meaning of writing across the curriculum and writing to learn mathematics, and describes formal and informal approaches for incorporating writing into the mathematics classroom. Concludes that writing in mathematics can identify math anxious students and help discover students' misconceptions. (11 references) (MDH)

Monte Carlo methods are used to evaluate marginal maximum likelihood estimation of item parameters and maximum likelihood estimates of theta in the two-parameter logistic model for varying test lengths, sample sizes, and assumed theta distributions. Results with 100 datasets demonstrate the methods' general precision and stability. Exceptions are…

The following models which provide an estimate of the reliability of a rating scale are described: (1) disattenuation; (2) common factor; (3) external criterion; (4) treatment effects; and (5) regression. Such models are especially useful in selecting, evaluating, and training participants in clinical research. (SLD)

Discusses the marginalization of spelling instruction. Presents several classroom implications supported by research on the development of orthographic knowledge as reflected in children's spelling errors. Addresses the issues related to placement, assessment, word study, and writing. (RS)

Offers three suggestions from teachers regarding managing peer tutors with letters and anecdotal records; creating postcards from the famous for social studies classes; and workplace literacy, from literacy audit to learner. (SR)

Found nontraditional assessment tools to be good predictors of current reading instruction group for nonhandicapped and mildly handicapped children. Iowa Tests of Basic Skills reading scores, curriculum-based measurement reading probes, and teachers' rating scale were able to stratify large sample of elementary school children into Chapter 1,…

Suggests a perspective for the notion of a community of learners based on respect and recognition for children and the concomitant freedom of children to take responsibility for their own learning. Advocates getting away from rigid inflexible structures, and proposes collaboration not as a formal structure but a way of being. (SR)

This examination of the Rasch scaling model concludes that the model could potentially facilitate objective comparisons of status and change of young children with disabilities at individual and group levels. The paper discusses applications of the model to early childhood assessment in the areas of item banking, test analysis, and subject…

Provides information on software tools, technologies, strategies for evaluation, and factoring-in teaching considerations. Also included is an extensive review of computer-assisted language learning materials and a software evaluation questionnaire. (16 references) (GLR)

Considers the successes and failures associated with the design, production, delivery, and evaluation of a home study course entitled "World Ecology: The Scientific Context" offered through Athabasca University (Canada). Discussion covers potential and actual students, course design, course teams, copyright, course materials, enrollment,…

Discusses teacher and principal attitudes toward implementation of the Foxfire approach on a school-wide basis at Rabun Gap Community School (Rabun, Georgia). Presents some of the student-generated experiential projects, including (1) developing and participating in Indian Day activities; (2) making and selling earrings; and (3) writing advice…