Assessment of the business curriculum and its learning goals and objectives has become a major field of interest for business schools. The exploratory results of the authors' model using a sample of 173 students show robust support for the hypothesis that high marks in course-embedded assessment on business-specific analytical skills positively…

A proficiency testing program for potential physical education majors is described. (MM)

What effect is the "back to basics" movement having on American teachers and schools? Are the media and the politicians taking the public for a ride? Reports on the controversies surrounding such issues as standards, testing and accountability. (Editor)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether tests would result in greater retention of research concepts and procedures than written exercises. Students in an introductory educational research course were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions--(1) written exercises only, (2) short-answer tests, or (3) individual choice. A…

The proposition, "That measurement issues in competency-based educational programs (CBE) are not different from those in other kinds of testing (NCBE)" must be declared false. (1) Measurement in CBE focuses on the present while NCBE measurement focuses on information needed for future planning. (2) CBE measurement starts with definitive statements…

An education reporter who took a leave of absence to observe competency-based education writes about his findings, which include both support and criticism of competency-based programs. (MF)

This paper describes the development and outcomes of New York State's "Invitation to Invention," the Regents Exam Options Project. Initiated as a temporary strategy to encourage and support local changes in teaching and assessment toward the learner-centered reforms taking place in the state, the project provided high school teachers and…

Competency-based graduation requirements provide students with a meaningful diploma, reduce illiteracy, and provide a system of quality control for schools. (Author)

Occupational competency measures to attest to student standing in vocational education (comparable to the Scholastic Aptitude Tests for college-bound students) and also to judge effectiveness of vocational teachers are needed, but existing measures are inadequate, according to the authors. A midpoint accreditation for the vocational program…

Standards-based assessments were prescribed as the cure for the poor accountability of public schools. Billions of dollars have been spent on curricula, tests, and scoring rubrics so that federal and state agencies can rank schools in terms of student achievement. Over the past twenty years, standards-based education has become the defacto, only…

Discusses President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act and addresses the flaws of the program. Addresses the program's focus on student assessments, relationship between assessment and accountability, and mandated assessments for public school. Also discusses how the program does not affect private and religious schools. (MZ)

Citing William Spady's distinction between capacity and competence, the author asserts that current competency tests mainly measure academic (capacity) not life (competency) skills. He then considers problems inherent in delineating, teaching, and testing essential practical living competencies and presents some alternatives. Part of a theme issue…

The question of whether performance measures may be more accurate than examination methods to assess an individual's abilities and knowledge is examined, based on a literature review. An information processing view that focuses on the internal activities of thinking and the relationship to external stimuli is considered. Information processing…

This information package has been designed for teachers, administrators, school boards, and legislators who are interested in exploring the area of competency based education (CBE). The first section briefly reviews why there is interest in CBE, how it is currently defined, and some of the major issues it raises (including definition of what…