Critical thinking, problem solving and communication are fundamental elements of undergraduate education, but methods for assessing these skills across an institution are susceptible to logistical, motivational and financial issues. Queen's University conducted two research studies investigating the use of standardised tests to assess cognitive…

This paper examines the French achievement results of three groups of students: Canadian-born English/French bilingual, Canadian-born multilingual and immigrant multilingual Grade 6 French immersion students, by investigating how the variables of integrative and instrumental motivations, attitudes to the learning situation, French language…

Assessing the comparability of different groups is an issue facing many researchers and evaluators in a variety of settings. Commonly, null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) is incorrectly used to demonstrate comparability when a non-significant result is found. This is problematic because a failure to find a difference between groups is not…

Ethnic origin is one factor that may influence the rate or sequence of infant motor development, interpretation of screening test results, and decisions regarding early intervention. The primary purpose of this study is to compare motor development screening test scores from infants of Asian and European ethnic origins. Using a cross-sectional…

The objectives of this study were to investigate the alignment of exam questions with course learning outcomes in a first year biology majors course, to examine gaps and overlaps in assessment of content amongst the sections of the course, and to use this information to provide feedback to the teaching team to further improve the course. Our…

The intention of Performance-Based Accountability (PBA) policies is to foster school changes to enhance student learning and success. The influence of variation in these approaches, however, has not been empirically determined. This article employs a new conceptual framework to describe PBA models and compare them across contexts. We conducted a…

The relationship between the Scholastic Aptitude Test of Ontario (S.A.T.O.) administered to twelfth grade students and the College Entrance Examination Board Scholastic Aptitude Test (C.E.E.B.), of which the S.A.T.O. is a modification, was studied. Data was collected through the co-operation of the schools. The S.A.T.O. data was recorded as raw…

A survey test in mathematics was administered to all pupils (N=5,557) in grade 6 of Vancouver schools. The three parts of the test--computation, concepts, and problems, were given in separate sessions. The same test was given in 1969. The median scores in 1972 for the three subtests and for total score were somewhat lower than those in 1969. A…

The valid interpretation of international testing program results in mathematics and science must recognize inherent limitations to international comparisons, and should give opportunity-to-learn as much importance as achievement data. Canadian test results, looked at in this light, appear better than some critics have suggested. (Author/SLD)

Compares immersion and non-immersion students' results on provincial Grade 3 tests in Ottawa in 1998-99. Explores the results by immersion type--according to the grade at which English literacy instruction is introduced, and the proportion of instructional time in English. Results corroborate those of large-scale evaluation studies of French…

The project attempted to discern the possible resulting effects on children and teachers from major structural changes in the design of classroom space. Three assumptions were tested: (1) children will assume greater initiative in resource use, (2) teachers get to know the children better, and (3) team teaching in open space classrooms contributes…

Two open plan elementary schools were chosen together with the two traditional schools that most matched in size, location, and socioeconomic backgrounds of pupils; and standardized tests of curiosity and creativity were administered to students in grades 2 and 5. The results of the analyses show that some differences exist on a few of the tests…

This study was designed to test four groups of pupils entering the second grade in the York County School Board area--two groups in open schools and two in traditional schools--chosen because of the similarity in the schools' size and location and in the socioeconomic status of the pupils. The students were tested once each year for three years…

READING PROGRAMS IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES IN MANITOBA, CANADA, WERE STUDIED OVER A 4-YEAR PERIOD TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMS WERE IN EFFECT AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE TEACHING OF READING. INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ARE (1) A SURVEY OF READING IN MANITOBA FROM 1946-1966, (2) A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE…

To assess the educational effectiveness of open plan schools, a standardized test of reading, spelling, and mathematics achievement was administered to grade 2 pupils in two open plan and ten conventionally constructed schools. Scores on all three measures, plus the average attained scores on an academic ability test, were not significantly…