In 2011, new teacher education programmes were introduced in Sweden. This policy case study examines the outcome of the reform, focusing on the pedagogic discourses in the examination practise of the primary teacher education programme, but also on the possible effects of dividing teacher education for primary teachers into two specialisations:…

This quantitative study was developed to explore the ability to impact elementary student 21st Century online research skills with a planned classroom intervention curriculum. The repeated measures quasi-experimental study randomly assigned all 5th grade classes in a Midwestern, suburban school (n = 418) to a 12-week intervention or control…

To accurately assess the health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of students in fourth-seventh grades, the staff of the School Health Education Evaluation project found development of a new instrument necessary. The philosophic orientation and detailed processes followed in developing a noncurriculum specific, psychometrically sound evaluation…

Results of gifted fourth-sixth graders on the Structure of the Intellect Learning Abilities Test are analyzed in terms of the test's measure of five operations (evaluation, convergent production, divergent production, memory, and cognition). (CL)

Presents a set of criteria (formulated by students) for evaluating student projects. Notes that the method is called "FINE" (Facts, Interesting, Neatness, Effort). (SR)

Describes the creation of an opera based on Aesop's Fables which was written, composed and performed by middle school students. Student groups created scenes based on the fables and devised methods for realizing them musically. Activity organization and student evaluation methods are discussed. (AM)

In a study involving 59 gifted fifth- and sixth-grade students, Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices test was a more significant predictor of intelligence than Meeker's Structure of Intellect screening form for gifted. The use of either measure in screening or identification was questioned. (CL)

Described is a device designed to assess food intake which consists of a card display of 40 foods and pictorial representation of a day with which students indicate their typical food patterns. Results from a field test with upper elementary students (N=532) proved favorable. (DC)

This study attempted to identify gifted child humorists among 1,204 children in grades 3-6. Final identification of 13 gifted child humorists was determined through application of such criteria as funniness, originality, and exemplary performance or product. The influence of intelligence, development, social factors, sex differences, family…

Two studies compared strengths and deficiencies in the problem solving abilities of about 80 learning disabled and 110 nondisabled fifth and sixth graders using a microcomputer as an assessment tool. No significant differences in performance on problem solving tasks were found. The microcomputer is postulated as possibly responsible for this…

Surveyed teachers of 852 students to sample their perceptions of their students' characteristics and behavior. The 99-item Student Behavior Inventory yielded 14 first-order factors, demonstrating the wide range of teachers' perceptions including interpersonal and intrapersonal dimensions. (JAC)

Describes six informal diagnostic strategies (paired learning, red dot, chalkboard analysis, small-group pretesting and reteaching, answer key, and calculator computation checks) designed to help middle school students gain independence through cooperative learning activities. Corrective feedback is provided through peer discussion, limited…

Discusses the 1997 NAEP "Arts Report Card," which, for the first time, includes theater arts. Relates that results confirm that large-scale assessment in theater is possible and that the assessment tasks and how they were scored should be useful for theater teachers seeking to refine their grading processes. Notes that the study was…

Evaluates the equivalence of translated achievement tests administered to 4,400 English- and French-speaking sixth-graders. Items displaying differential item functioning were flagged using three statistical methods; results were relatively consistent across methods, but not identical. Substantive review of French items via back-translation to…

During a comprehensive study of childrens' images of the future, the appropriateness of the Delphi technique as a method for studying the thoughts of children was assessed. This article discusses the potential of the Delphi technique based on this research. The research methodolgoy is discussed. (JL)