This article reviews research on changes in teachers' workplace relations in a policy context that increasingly emphasizes accountability. The findings indicate that a greater focus on testing and student performance often leads to less attention to the caring and relational aspects of teachers' work. Prevailing and enduring ideas about teachers'…

There are many kinds of classroom assessment--from informal observation of students to more formal exams and standardized tests. Two categories have been identified--formative assessments and summative assessments. Formative assessments are used by teachers to provide feedback to students and to guide improvement of instruction. For example, if a…

In many school districts, the pressure to raise test scores has created overnight celebrity status for formative assessment. Its powers to raise student achievement have been touted, however, without attending to the research on which these claims were based. Sociocultural learning theory provides theoretical grounding for understanding how…

The use of peers to provide instructional control was investigated in two studies. The first determined the reliability with which students identify multiplication fact errors. The second investigated the effectiveness of a peer-mediated drill procedure for instruction on multiplication facts. (Author/RK)

A study to investigate attitudes of elementary and secondary school teachers towards testing observed teachers' knowledge, information desired, student acceptance, external constraints, nature and quality of test information, and evaluative uses. Results show that teachers use tests often, have limited testing expertise, and are concerned about…

Examines possible relationships between the analytic/global dimension of cognitive style, as defined by Davis and Klausmeier (1970) and measured by the Children's Embedded Figures Test (CEFT), and two modes of instruction varying in the level of written guidance (Intermediate and Maximal) provided the learner. (Author/RK)

Conclusions reached after three years of performance contracting experience and materials with which to judge the validity of the conclusions are presented in this overview of performance contracting. The conclusions are: (1) commercial firms are no better at teaching children than are public schools; (2) commercial firms expend as much or more…

Discusses a study of differences in seven instructors' grading of four college business writing assignments. (DD)

A study sought to identify and examine key factors that influence adult basic education (ABE) mathematics instruction in Massachusetts and to develop a detailed picture of the adult basic math learning environment. Phase I involved a survey by questionnaire directed at the entire Massachusetts population of instructors and program directors…

Described is a study which was designed to investigate the effects of two evaluation methods on the learning process in mathematics courses. States that in one method students were given daily tests; the second method relied on weekly tests. No significant differences were noted; however certain trends were apparent. (RT)

Increased student demand for foundations courses, coupled with a lack of qualified staff, made it necessary to provide workable alternatives to traditional instruction. Substantial adjustments could not be made until the efficacy of the new methods could be documented. The study compared cognitive and attitudinal outcomes of two types of classes,…

A presentation based on the research of Dr. John Goodlad and Dr. Benjamin Bloom is given which compares alternative learning approaches to the traditional learning approach. Alternative learning approaches are defined as approaches that may change or adjust one or more of the three major components of learning which are curriculum, testing and…

A computer simulation procedure was developed to reproduce the overall pattern of results obtained in the Educational Testing Service Growth Study. Then simulated data for seven sets of 10,000 to 15,000 cases were analyzed, and findings compared on the basis of correlations between estimated and true growth scores. Findings showed that growth was…

This 180-item annotated bibliography covers research in the teaching of English, published between January 1, 1973, and June 30, 1973. Subject headings include "Literature, Humanities, and Media,""Written and Oral Communication,""Language "Literature, Humanities, and Media,""Written and Oral…

This 114-item annotated bibliography covers research in the teaching of English published between July 1, 1973, and December 31, 1973. Subject headings include "Bilingual and Bidialectal Studies,""Language and Verbal Learning,""Literature, Humanities, and Media,""Teacher Education,""Testing and…