The purpose of this first issue of the 2005-2006 school year is to describe the Learning Disabilities Association's (LDA) activities available to any Adult Basic Education (ABE) program manager, instructor, tutor, or learner in the state of Minnesota at no cost through supplemental service grant funds. Activities of most interest to ABE providers…

The purpose of this study (1,313 college student participants) was to examine the differences in paper-based and Web-based administrations of a commonly used assessment instrument, the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) (D. Hestenes, M. Wells, and G. Swackhamer, 1992). Results demonstrated no appreciable difference on FCI scores or FCI items based on…

To measure workplace skills more realistically for certification purposes, two computer-delivered performance examinations, termed "Live Application" exams, were developed to test job-related competencies in a specific software product, Lotus Notes. As in the real world, success on examination tasks was determined by the examinee's final…

Describes the Examination Question System, a computer-assisted testing system developed by and used at the University of Mississippi School of Health Related Professions. Individual programs within the system are described and ordering information is included. (JJD)

"Spelling Bee" is a computer program (Applesoft Basic), suitable for grades K-3, consisting of several "modes" and 11 units of spelling words. "Modes" include Demonstration (teacher preview of lessons), Learning Management (test preparation), Tutorial (student practice), and Drill (spelling test, which can be designed to meet individual student…

Discusses computer testing and test generation programs, focusing on generating printed tests with the computer and advantages of interactive computer testing over paper/pencil tests (providing that sufficient computer equipment is available to make it feasible). (JN)

Presents a rationale for the use of local norms and a procedure, illustrated with an example, for updating a norm group's test score mean and variance. Local norms can be more recent, relevant, and representative for local groups. (Author)

A method to measure speededness on tests is presented that reflects the tendency of examinees to guess rapidly on items as time expires. The method models response times with a two-state mixture model, as demonstrated with data from a computer-administered reasoning test taken by 7,218 examinees. (SLD)

Computer-assisted and paper-and-pencil-administered formats for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories were investigated. Subjects were 32 master's and doctoral-level counseling students. Findings indicated that the two formats were comparable and that students preferred the computer-assisted format. (AEF)

Evaluated the structural equivalence and differential item functioning of an employee attitude survey from a large international corporation across three languages, eight cultures, and two mediums of administration. Results for 40,595 employees show the structure of survey data was consistent and items functioned similarly across all groups. (SLD)

High school students took the Self Directed Search twice: (1) counselor-scored paper and online (n=31); (2) self-scored paper and online (n=42); (3) online at school twice (n=46); and (4) online at home (n=31). Content validity and reliability of the online version were supported, and users were more satisfied. Online resulted in higher profiles.…

Latent dimensions underlying individual differences in performance of information-processing tasks and dual task combinations, and the existence of a time-sharing (TS) ability were studied in 81 male college students. Supportive evidence for a general TS ability was not found. An identified TS factor specific to task combinations is discussed.…

Indices that detail aspects of student test responses include overall aberrancy; tendencies to miss relatively easy items; tendencies to correctly answer more difficult items; and a combination that indicates how the latter tendencies balance each other. Mathematics test results for 368 college students illustrate the indices. (SLD)

Explored rehabilitation clients' (N=75) perceptions of Microcomputer Evaluation and Screening Assessment (MESA). Results showed clients experienced greater enjoyment, but more difficulty, learning how to complete computer exercises than hardware exercises but viewed computer exercises instructions as easier to understand. Observed differences in…

The author anticipates that sophisticated interactive computer programs will be effective in improving screening and case finding of the suicidal and that they will become invaluable in improving training for primary care providers and outpatient mental health workers. Additionally, improved communication networks will help maintain continuity of…