Formative assessment can be a powerful tool to support effective K-12 computer science (CS) instruction. Having teachers and students engage with the formative assessment process can increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes. In this guide, the authors show readers how to apply the five-step process outlined in the corresponding…

Students perform poorly on assessments primarily because they don't see the relevance of the content they are expected to master, they think they know the material but really don't, or teachers don't recognize that students aren't learning. Now there's a way you can overcome all of those challenges by using the improved formative assessment system…

"Formative assessment is a powerful learning tool that is too seldom, too haphazardly, and too ineffectively used in the United States," Pendred E. Noyce writes in the introduction to this volume. "The purpose of this book is to delve into why this is so and how it can be changed." Formative assessment involves constantly monitoring student…

The book is a highly readable integration of the latest assessment policies, and includes valuable information regarding young children with special needs and English Language Learners--topics that have rarely been touched upon in other textbooks. Focusing on practical applications of key concepts, this text provides a knowledge base of what every…

Developing instruction is a critical part of the education process. For instruction to be effective it should be organized and well planned. Development of an effective program should include careful consideration of the need for instruction, the audience, and the course content. Instruction delivered via telecommunications can be even more…

In response to the increasing proportion of foreign graduate students in master's programs for teachers of English as a second language (MATESL), students in the University of Northern Iowa's program were surveyed concerning the appropriateness of the programs' design. In in-depth interviews and on questionnaires, foreign graduate students were…

The development of videodiscs for science instruction in public schools requires a recognition of the unique characteristics of the public school environment and sensitivity to the persistent problems associated with science content instruction. This report discusses the conceptualization, development, and formative evaluation of a series of…

Although the ultimate goal of teacher education is to provide an adequate supply of highly qualified teachers for the nation's schools, many factors hinder its success. In special education, too few people enter the field, and a policy context that promotes easy entry via unconventional preparation threatens to dilute teacher quality. In this…

Originally designed to serve 400 employees, the Mott Community College (MCC) Workplace Literacy Project provided instruction in basic workplace skills to 566 employees from 20 companies. The cost was 2 percent lower than projected. All participants were assessed and counseled on the basis of the assessment tests. Individualized training plans were…

A project promoted job literacy skills, improved worker productivity, and completed job-related literacy training covering the three phases of textile manufacturing. It created successful job-related training programs for greige mill and finishing plant employees through the following methods: conducting task analyses, modifying and creating…

The project described in this report was conducted at Temple University (Pennsylvania) to design a collegial process and the necessary instructional materials to enable the practicing vocational educator to engage in professional development with a commitment to a formative approach. The project attempted to bring inservice vocational teacher…

This manual presents 15 Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) tools and techniques necessary for effective teaching. By using the tools and techniques of CQI, teachers will be able to help themselves and their students to focus on the classroom processes. This will permit the teacher and students to plan, organize, implement, and make decisions…

The guide is one section of a resource kit designed to assist Peace Corps language instruction coordinators in countries around the world in understanding the principles underlying second language learning and teaching and in organizing instructional programs. This section focuses on design and development of pre-service language training programs…

To address the need for information on techniques and theory on the evaluation of composition instruction, this book has been revised to incorporate the most recent thinking on the topic. It begins with suggestions for how readers of different backgrounds can make best use of the book, followed by an introduction. The first chapter deals with…