What is assessment literacy? It is a handful of fundamental understandings about the testing concepts and procedures that influence educational decisions. And it just might be the most cost-effective means of real school improvement. With characteristic humor and aplomb, assessment expert W. James Popham strips away the psychometrician-speak and…

This text is a compilation of articles focusing on second language teaching, second language learning, and learning materials. Written in honor of Dr. Mary Finocchiaro, it epitomizes her work in the field of language teaching by presenting both theory and practice in the second language classroom. The articles include (1) "What is Second Language…

This monograph is an evaluation of instruments used to measure attitude change in high school populations. These instruments are also tools for information seeking, and for both individual and group counseling. The instruments evaluated are The California Life Goals Evaluation Schedules, The Occupational Aspiration Scale, Occupational Interests…

Despite signs of increasing agreement among mental health professionals, controversy continues over developmental, diagnostic, and intervention issues surrounding childhood depression. This introductory text is written for practitioners as well as for advanced undergraduates or graduate students who are preparing to become psychologists, social…

While school leaders have long sought a definitive tool for assessing teacher affect and dispositions, a practical method for measurement has proven elusive. This book presents a conceptual framework that helps educators understand what "appropriate dispositions" are, why it is important to measure them, and how to implement an assessment process…

This monograph reports on the instrument development phase of the attitudinal section of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Civic Education Study. During this development the general emphasis was on the measurement of a variety of dimensions derived either from statements of curricular objectives in…

Violence is one of the most complex and difficult student problems in public education. It interferes with students' academic performance, career options, and personal and social growth, and threatens the safety of students and faculty. Most professionals who work in schools are not trained to deal with violence. At the same time, incidents of…

This collection of papers includes: "Martians Invade the Classroom: A Workshop in Language Learning" (Carmine Tabone and Robert Albrecht); "Autonomous Learning through Cinema: One Learner's Memories" (Connie Haham); "Learning a Second Language Through Culture" (Barbara Le Blanc and Joseph Dicks); "Shakespeare for…