Eisner's educational criticism model produces a richer description of an English classroom than does Flanders' interaction analysis. (Author)

We need to develop better forms of school readiness assessment that do not encourage tracking, narrowing the curriculum, or kindergarten retention. This article describes three examples of work-in-progress from the state of Georgia, a test publisher (CTB Macmillan/McGraw-Hill), and a research scientist, Samuel Meisels. Includes seven references.…

Offers some proven design tips, tools, and criteria for fashioning assessment tasks that are more enticing, feasible, and defensible. Typical tests tend to overassess student "knowledge" and underassess student "know-how with knowledge." Test designers should create authentic simulations rich in contextual detail, devise meaningful tasks, and…

After establishing ambitious learning outcomes to prepare students for the next century, a Colorado school district used a framework developed at a nearby educational laboratory as a model to create appropriate assessment criteria and tasks. The revised assessment procedures have produced significant benefits for both students and teachers,…

The classroom observations to encourage strong link between teachers and young students using variety of approaches and techniques are discussed. The experience of a teacher to learn the accurate ways to read the minds of students during the 130 days spent in California high school is described.

Calvert County School District, Maryland, has developed a differentiated teacher evaluation system that promotes collaboration among supervisors and administrators in rating teacher performance. Methods involve informal observation, rating observation, and nonrating observation. Implementation is accompanied by extensive formative evaluation by…

Discusses the purpose of the theory of developmental supervision, as well as the phases necessary to put the theory into practice. In this developmental model supervisors match their style of assistance to teachers' conceptual levels. Includes a table and references. (MD)

Describes two exploratory projects involving a fifth-grade civics class in Connecticut and an eighth-grade English class in Vermont. Using techniques such as small-group inteviews, situational pictures, learning logs, and assessment measures, researchers determined that what students learn often bears little resemblance to the "taught"…

A combination of methods--portfolios, direct observation, assessment centers, and better tests--can compensate for one another's shortcomings and reflect the richness and complexity of teaching. (Author/TE)

When commercially available tests failed to match their whole-language instructional practices, resource teachers in a Canadian school district developed their own instrument. Assembled over a five-year period, the Multi-Layered Assessment Package (MAP) is a set of procedures accompanied by suggested books, transcripts, and retelling and recording…

England's new General Certificate of Secondary Education examination has improved teaching and broadened the range of skills appraised. Besides demanding new skills, a new professionalism, and parents' and politicians' trust, performance assessment is costly and time-consuming. Despite all care and effort, some will not view this method as…

Defines education's new paradigm as schooling based on decision making, the critical thinking skills serving it, and the knowledge base supporting it. Outlines a model decision-making process using a hypothetical breakfast problem; a late riser chooses goals, generates ideas, develops an action plan, and implements and evaluates it. (4 references)…

Interprets a range of affective evaluation practices, with a brief discussion of the strengths and limitations of each. Ideas for some new directions are also explored. (Author/JG)

Describes how the Dallas Independent School District uses the research and development concept of context evaluation to help direct changes in instructional systems, materials, and methodology. (Author/JG)

To audit school climate requires sound comprehensive planning and should include assessment of the climate dimensions of human satisfaction and human productivity. (Author/JM)