Describes the Geographic Information System (GIS) which is capable of storing, manipulating, and displaying data allowing students to explore complex relationships through scientific inquiry. Explains applications of GIS in middle school classrooms and includes assessment strategies. (YDS)

Explains how teachers can help students answer open-ended, interpretive, higher order essay questions. Students have difficulty with these questions because of a lack of exposure and skills and because they often omit key information they assume the teacher already knows. Focusing on key words in the questions can help students to write better…

Explains the importance of culturally relevant assessment. Describes the use of concept mapping, cooperative learning, group assessment, journaling, oral interviews, and portfolios in multiethnic and multiracial student assessment. (PR)

Explains how peer scores can be used to constitute one part of students' grades on group projects. Contributions students make to a project are defined in four categories: creativity/ideas contributed, research/data collection, writing/typing/artwork, and organizing/collating. A scoring rubric for these categories is presented. (PR)

Describes a project to develop and conduct an assessment that was congruent with the hands-on, process-oriented science education used in an Illinois school district. The approach used observations, group-teacher interactions, group performance, and data gathering and interpretation. The major components of the program are summarized. (PR)

Presents 10 guidelines for developing performance-based assessment items. Presents a sample activity developed from the guidelines. The activity tests students ability to observe, classify, and infer, using red and blue litmus paper, a pH-range finder, vinegar, ammonia, an unknown solution, distilled water, and paper towels. (PR)