Critique and questioning are central to the practice of science; without argument and evaluation, the construction of reliable knowledge would be impossible. The challenge is to incorporate an understanding of the role of critique and, more importantly, the ability to engage in critique, within the teaching of science. The emphasis in both the US…

A teacher that emphasizes reasoning, logic and validity gives their students access to mathematics as an effective way of practicing critical thinking. All students have the ability to enhance and expand their critical thinking when learning mathematics. Students can develop this ability when confronting mathematical problems, identifying possible…

The Common Core State Standards present the greatest opportunity in decades to improve the quality of education afforded to all students. Uniformly raising standards across the majority of states and increasing the rigor of assessments sets an ambitious bar of college and career readiness for all students. Furthermore, assessing students against…

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with Dollar General Literacy Foundation, is proud to present this issue brief examining the vital role afterschool programs play in building students' literacy skills. This issue brief will focus on the year-round support needed to help students with their reading, writing and critical thinking skills. This…

The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with Dollar General Literacy Foundation, is proud to present this issue brief examining the vital role afterschool programs play to build students' literacy skills. This issue brief will explore the additional support needed to help students with their reading, writing and critical thinking skills, as well…

Assessing students' historical understanding has been a long-standing challenge in history education. One of the widely used tools for accomplishing this task is the large-scale standardized test, the results of which are used as an indicator of student knowledge and skills in the social sciences/history. At the national level, the National…

The assessment of learning in large online courses requires tools that are valid, reliable, easy to administer, and can be automatically scored. We have evaluated an online assessment and learning tool called Knowledge Assembly, or Knowla. Knowla measures a student's knowledge in a particular subject by having the student assemble a set of…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) House Appropriations Subcommittee Sharpens Budget Knife: Subcommittee's Bill Would Cut Education Programs by $1.1…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) Alliance for Excellent Education Announces New Center for Secondary School Digital Learning and Policy: Center's Work…

Author attempted to clarify the issues and to provide the background needed to understand the roots and assumptions of the movement towards accountability as well as the movement to technologize curriculum planning and teaching. (Author/RK) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Procedures (Evaluation).

Noting that the public's discussion, and most of what has appeared in educationist publications for teachers' discussion, is silent about the practicality of what reasoning is and how to teach it, this paper presents several examples taken from the National Assessment of Educational Progress' (NAEP) "Literacy: Profiles of America's Young…

Describes lessons that build students' critical thinking skills through improving class discussions, distinguishing between comprehension and critical reading, and involving students in writing while reading. (AEA)

Noting that the demands of literacy have increased and that it is in this context that literacy performance must be evaluated, this book summarizes the most important results of the Young Adult Literacy Assessment, and provides thoughtful analysis of their implications from the standpoint of unemployment, economic competitiveness, the problem of…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) issued two reports in 1990 assessing the nation's current educational abilities in reading and writing. The "Reading Report Card, 1971-88" presented and analyzed results over an 18-year period for ages 9, 13, and 17 years (grades 4, 8, and 11, respectively). The 9-year-olds and…

Discusses literacy and quality of education problems in the United States, provides literacy statistics (including school dropouts and immigrants), and identifies factors contributing to the problem. Presents unencouraging National Assessment of Educational Progress 1980 survey results, links the need for technical literacy to vocational…