Describes the use of ethological observation methods in a study of student behavior for use in student or course assessment. Describes how a convenient, highly portable recording system designed for ethological observation can be used in educational settings. (Contains 12 references.) (ASK)

Instructors use peer feedback to afford students multiple assessments of their work and to help them acquire important lifelong skills. However, research finds that this type of feedback has questionable validity, reliability, and accuracy, and instructors consider much of it too uncritical, superficial, vague, and content-focused, among other…

This paper provides practical description, examples, and step-by-step guidelines for using portfolio assessment. Both advantages and limitations of portfolio assessment are offered, although the authors clearly argue for the benefits of using portfolios to evaluate learning. Contains a sample format for holistic grading of a portfolio. (Author/RS)

A systemic model for conceptualizing, designing, implementing, and evaluating intervention trials with handicapped infants and young children is proposed. The model has seven components: developmental basis, explanatory factors, intervention targets, assessment procedures, intervention strategies, intervention contexts, and evaluation procedures.…

Three types of informal assessment procedures (interest analysis, interviewing, and observation) are described as approaches to identifying areas of need in individualized programing for the gifted. (CL)

Offers suggestions for reinforcing the teaching of writing as process by approaching the evaluation of writing as process. (FL)

This book discusses issues regarding assessment in mathematics education; explains different types of assessments such as journals, classroom work, portfolios, and tests; and provides tips for mathematics teachers to maintain high quality classrooms. Contents include: (1) "Issues in Quality Mathematics Assessment"; (2) "Math Learning Logs and…

Students individually or in committees with teacher guidance need to develop a portfolio to indicate the quality of school work that has been accomplished. Student portfolios are a purposeful collection of work that illustrates the students' efforts, progress, and achievement in given areas. Portfolios provide ongoing and authentic records of…

Guidelines are presented on writing a visual assessment report of visually handicapped students for purposes of assessment or for writing an individualized education program. Topics to be covered as well as steps in preparing and writing the report are discussed. (CL)

Assessment approaches are described which avoid the attribution of an ability/achievement discrepancy to a learning deficiency, while emphasizing the interaction between the individual and environment. The Guide to the Child's Learning Skills, learning styles inventory, and contract activity packages are discussed. (CL)

The use of improvement scores to measure gain or growth in physical education presents serious problems, particularly in terms of units of measurement for the improvement scores. An exponential method is presented which converts increases of different sizes and from different starting points into comparable terms. (JMF)

Offers guidelines, sample approaches, and lists of resources for use by educators in developing student television viewing skills. (FL)

Suggests "Adapted Miscue Analysis" as an effective way for teachers to analyze the reading levels, comprehension, and competence of their students. (TJ)

Discusses having students dig deep into a novel to create material that demonstrates their understanding of the characters; and having students illustrate their understanding of poetry by the way they read it, by the music they select to have in the background, and by the connecting commentary that links poems together. Provides sample rubrics to…

Notes that employers' use of behavioral description interviews has increased dramatically within the past decade. Explains that behavioral description questions require respondents to tell stories and that storytelling is now critical to applicants' success in employment interviews. Presents criteria to judge the effectiveness of applicants'…