This study investigated the nature of pre-service science teachers' (PSTs') situation-specific skills for informal formative assessment (FA) and their awareness of activating these skills in classroom-like situations. Video-based interviews were conducted to collect data from fifteen PSTs before they participated in a teacher education program.…

As many colleges and universities offer increasing numbers of online courses and degree programs, debates regarding teaching public speaking online continue. This research utilizes Kluger and DeNisi's (1996, The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory.…

This article describes the pilot study of an informal assessment, the "Student Transition Questionnaire" (STQ). The STQ is a 38-item assessment designed to elicit student perspectives on transition-related topics. In this mixed-methods study, we piloted the STQ with 186 participants, and then conducted focus groups with various…

This study aimed to investigate how students' conceptions of assessment relate to one another, how students define assessment, and how student conceptions of assessment relate to their definitions of assessment. A nationally representative sample of New Zealand secondary students (N = 705) responded to a 45-item Conceptions of Assessment inventory…

Twenty early childhood practitioners (ECPs) and final-year Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies students completed a questionnaire about their use (or planned use) of formal and informal child development assessment instruments, their choice of specific instruments, and factors influencing decisions to conduct child development assessments within…

Reported are highlights of elementary school students' responses to the question: "What good things would you tell your friends about this school?" Students were enrolled in eight unusually successful elementary schools participating in the U.S. Department of Education's 1985-86 Elementary School Recognition Program. Composed of 6 to 12…

To assess the effectiveness of various composition evaluation methods, a study asked two freshman English classes to respond to three questionnaires on the writing of personal essays and methods of evaluation they had experienced. Responses indicated that all students had a fear of having their essays evaluated. Evaluation methods considered a…

This experiment explored the effect of teacher expectations on vocational students' cognitive and psychomotor skills and on attitudes. Although teachers' expectations changed student attitudes toward teachers and subjects, neither expectations nor attitude change had an effect on student achievement. (SK)

Experiments at three community colleges were conducted to examine the relationships among anxiety, performance, and two different methods of informing students of their instructor's evaluation of in-class speeches. Subjects were 77 students in six speech classes. The three teachers of the classes gave traditional letter grades and comments on the…

Attitudes held by students and instructors toward students of differing ages were investigated. The respondents were 32 undergraduates in each of four age-groupings (to 19, 20-24, 25-35, 35+ years of age) and 32 college instructors. All respondents rated four student age-groups (to 19, 20-24, 25-35, 35+ years of age) on eight variables: concern…

The purpose of this study was to determine if students' definitions of reading and self-perceptions/attitudes as readers are related to word recognition and comprehension performances. The study also examined if students' definitions of reading were related to a tendency to exhibit learning difficulties. Subjects were the entire third-grade…

Presents 15 teachers' viewpoints on discipline; parent, teacher, and student thoughts on the causes of discipline problems; a federal discipline policy statement; a list of common discipline problems; eight questions to ask when exploring practical solutions; and approaches to discipline problems. (AH)

An Approach to formative evaluation is described that attempts to actively involve students and explore the meaning of processes, activities, and performances in terms of the wide variety of students' perceptions and responses. When poor student performance is not attributable to lack of effort or ability, the need for a more personal…

Evaluation and assessment procedures of Ontario, Canada principals and teachers at the Intermediate level (grades 7 and 8) were examined. Extensive questionnaires were returned by 134 principals and 225 teachers divided across the subject areas of English, Mathematics, Science, Languages, History, Home Economics or Shop, Arts, and Physical…