Tests and exams are a source of stress for many students. High school teacher Jacob Wells has found that he can alleviate some of that stress by allowing students to weigh in on when their assessments are scheduled. He describes why this has been helpful and shares some of the parameters that have made it feasible.

Effective instructor evaluation is complex and requires the use of multiple measures--formal and informal, traditional and authentic--as part of a balanced evaluation system. The student voice, a critical element of that balanced system, is appropriately complemented by instructor self-assessment and the reasoned judgments of other relevant…

With the new school year now well under way, staff, students and families are still in desperate need of a clear strategic direction and set of tools for promoting equity and excellence in a moment of crisis. Nationally, we see school systems stepping up in new ways to provide this clarity, and seizing the moment afforded by these unusual…

This article describes the creation of the Master of Science of Computer Science and Information Systems at University of North Carolina Wilmington. The creation of this graduate degree was funded by the Sloan Foundation as a new type of program, the Professional Master's. The program was designed with significant industry input, and is truly…

This publication focuses on national and international policy initiatives to develop a better understanding of part-time learners and the types of flexibility that may enhance their study especially pedagogically. As part of our five-strand research project "Flexible Pedagogies: preparing for the future" it: (1) highlights the challenges…

Many physical education teachers experience frustration about student assessment because of issues such as overcrowded classes, scheduling conflicts, extensive record keeping, lack of planning time, or deciding what areas to assess. For these reasons, teachers may base the majority of students' grades simply on participation and behavior. Very…

To use a block schedule or a traditional schedule? Which structure will produce the best and highest achievement rates for students? The research is mixed on this due to numerous variables such as: (1) socioeconomic levels; (2) academic levels; (3) length of time a given schedule has been in operation; (4) strategies being used in the classrooms;…

Testing students once a year, with data reported many months later, is like using an autopsy to determine how to help a patient, says Cindy Ambrose, chief academic officer of the Horry County Schools in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In Horry County and many other districts around the country, assessment that monitors vital signs on an ongoing…

This issue of "Infobrief" concludes the exploration into the potential for high school reform in the United States. Earlier issues defined five components of an Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) proposal to effect reform: (1) multiple measures of assessment; (2) personalized learning strategies; (3) new models of…

Offers guidelines for weeding as part of school library collection development. Highlights include developing a weeding policy; and the CREW (Continuous Review Evaluation and Weeding) method, including reasons for weeding, scheduling, and guidelines for fiction and for nonfiction. (LRW)

The purposes of this paper are (1) to describe background and current content of the Agenda for the United States Department of Education's assessment of the Chapter 2 block grant; (2) to stimulate discussion of the structure and approaches proposed; and (3) to solicit ideas and comments from state, local and university researchers. To meet these…

The University of Miami's campus design competition is described, selected comments from the jury's deliberation and oral report are presented, and the entries of the 5 grand prize winners, 10 honorable mention winners, and additional entries are reproduced. (MSE)

Discussion of the role of academic librarians and faculty status highlights the importance of a holistic view of the academic model of librarianship and suggests a system for providing support and judging performance. Topics addressed include activities in teaching, research, and service; performance criteria; scheduling; training; and evaluation…

The modular curriculum for agricultural education was developed and refined by teachers and consultants to meet student needs for a more flexible type of curriculum in which the student's occupational goals would form the basis for program planning. The module--a unit of curriculum based on the development of entry level competencies--contains the…

Discusses the change in teachers' roles with integrated learning systems (ILSs) from the role of deliverer of instruction to manager of instruction. Topics addressed include scheduling; assigning lessons; motivating students; evaluation of task performance; the communication process; time equity; merging the ILS with the classroom curriculum; and…