This book explores the key issues of learner assessment in terms of who it is for, what modes of assessment exist, what makes for sound assessment, why assessment is done, what agencies are promoting innovative methods of assessment, and the catalysts for change. Practical suggestions on how to assess more effectively are provided, including…

Academic achievement is increasing in schools, but so is the dropout rate. Excellence in schools must be defined more broadly than the scores students earn on achievement tests. Concerns such as equity must be a part of the definition of excellence in education. It is essential that for some programs with disproportionate enrollments, educators…

Prepared by the Classroom Feedback Subcommittee of the Teaching/Learning Project, this report offers recommendations on "the sharing of constructive information between students and faculty relative to each other's performance through a process by which faculty learn about their teaching and students learn about their learning." After presenting…

Lists reading materials that can help students learn more about topics in which they are interested, learn to do new things, and entertain themselves. (FL)

Offers strategies for improving student scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Covers three areas: improvement in instructional quality in high schools; analysis and refinement of opportunities for students to demonstrate and practice test-taking skills; and enhancement of understanding and support among parents, community, and staff. (PGD)

Schools can help adolescents strengthen their decision making skills and sense of responsibility by 1) providing them with a wide range of opportunities to exercise these abilities, 2) employing staff who are positive models of constructive decision making and personal responsibility, and 3) utilizing curriculum that focuses on these areas.…

Examines the consequences of assigning student grades using test-score averaging on course materials, tests, and learning. Proposes an alternative method of grading based on progressive improvement by the student that emphasizes the learning of concepts. (MDH)

Reports how a teacher developed practical methods for raising the reading scores of low ability, learning disabled students. (RL)

Ties together the educational threads of teaching thinking skills and improving the intellectual performance in deaf learners. Identifies six criteria for curriculum or research decisions related to teaching for higher-level problem solving. Applications of these ideas to mathematics are left to the reader. (MDH)

An authority on student assessment says the ability of public schools to meet federal expectations will depend on the instructional sensitivity of the tests in use. Offers a six-step blueprint for carrying out a public-information campaign about NCLB tests. Lists websites for two reports by five national education associations on instructionally…

A set of principles that focus on issues concerning implementation of a successful dropout prevention program is presented by a consortium of national educational organizations. The key elements of this "blueprint" consider local adaptations and effective results among various programs. The booklet discusses seven principles for dropout…

Describes a teaching method that uses Molly Bloom's soliloquy from James Joyce's "Ulysses" to teach punctuation to freshman writing students. Argues that the assignment helps students discover their power as orderers. (EL)

Shows how basic writing students' knowledge of how to use the computer to produce new, revised drafts of their essays in approximately an hour led to their productive use of word processing. (EL)

The Research for Better Schools Urban Education Project provides a different framework from current education-reform efforts for restructuring urban schools and improving educational quality. This volume organizes a set of invited papers according to the Urban Learner Framework themes of cultural diversity and learning, unrecognized abilities and…

Presents a response to recent calls for reform in science education. Argues for increased "hands-on" experience, both in the laboratory and in the environment. Suggests the need for producing more "enthusiastic" science teachers. (TW)