Can public schools learn to embrace innovation and employ cutting edge technology to solve students' most persistent learning problems? In 2010, New York City's Department of Education (NYCDOE) created the Innovation Zone (iZone) to try to accomplish just that. This report reflects the findings of a CRPE study of the iZone, its goals and…

Practice and experience, whether simulated or on the job, are not enough to ensure effective learning. Learners must be able to make sense of those experiences to identify poor decisions and actions, missing knowledge, and weak skills that deserve attention. Using instructors to provide one-on-one instruction is effective but also expensive. This…

Assessment models support the design of quality performance assessments. Assessment tools are being developed to enable easy and effective application of the models. Based on representations of assessment design knowledge and domain knowledge in ontologies, the tools provide guidance to assessment designers, and through constraint processing check…

To investigate the feasibility of developing hands-on instruments to aid classroom teachers in assessing both entering and exiting skills of the special needs students in vocational education, a continuing project at the University of Pittsburgh was conducted to meet two major objectives: develop a definitive rationale for the design of a hands-on…