The present study measured the comprehension-based silent reading efficiency of U.S. students in grades 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Students read standardized grade-level passages while an eye movement recording system was used to measure reading rate, fixations (eye stops) per word, fixation durations, and regressions (right-to-left eye movements)…

This study examined teacher-learners' reflections about the use of video production in their K-12 classrooms for evidence of content learning, the factors facilitating teacher use of video production, and the challenges teachers reported. Findings demonstrated positive content learning outcomes as measured by objective tests, rubrics, and…

Since 1973, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has gathered information about student achievement in mathematics. Results of these periodic assessments, produced in print and web-based formats, provide valuable information to a wide variety of audiences. They inform citizens about the nature of students' comprehension of the…

As a classroom teacher, Kari Smith realized that traditional objective tests don't always assess what students actually know. But tests are so deeply embedded in the education system that it would be difficult to do away with them entirely. Smith decided to make tests into learning tools. In this article, Smith describes three strategies for…

Investigates meaningful assessment to give teachers information on students' understanding of mathematical ideas and how their understanding changes over time. Presents examples collected from a teacher-made quiz, the Advanced Placement calculus test, and the SAT-I Mathematics test. Illustrates both the inherent subjectivity of these methods and…

Recounts one school system's attempt to impose competency tests on its teachers and discusses the experience of other districts with standarized tests for teachers and teacher applicants. (IRT)

It is commonly believed that highly subjective humans ultimately perform all testing and grading efforts and that all testing and grading is completely subjective. However, Quentin Durham argues that there is no such thing as objective testing or grading. With wit and clarity, "The Realities of Classroom Testing and Grading" suggests that all…

Presents three quizzes designed to test student awareness of Pennsylvania's historical and economic relationships with the rest of the world. (AM)

Discusses one way to explore the concept of sustainable development with students by examining the loss of biodiversity. Presents information on the root causes of biodiversity loss and the links to an understanding of sustainable development. Contains a 20-question true-false biodiversity quiz with answer key. (LZ)

The purpose of this bulletin is to help the teacher derive the full value from the classroom test as an important educational tool. Principles of good test construction are explained and illustrated. Concrete examples of good procedure and poor procedure are offered. A checklist is presented of the salient points to keep in mind when preparing a…

A poll of 350 state and local English and language arts supervisors and an examination of research data both show that writing instruction is discouraged by the use of objective tests, while tests that include writing samples generally result in more teaching of writing. (MLF)

Discusses the various means of scoring objective tests. (FL)

This review, with profiles of 51 available writing/language usage tests from most major test publishing companies, provides technical information on the tests, the evolution of test characteristics, the tests' role as writing samples, and issues in psychometric quality. Published objective writing tests are changing in important and positive ways.…

Based on the classic test-wiseness principles of J. Millman, C. H. Bishop, and R. Ebel, the STAR strategy streamlines the taking of timed tests. Before explaining the strategy to students, the instructor can convince students of the advantages of the strategy by administering a short test to determine students' test-wiseness. The STAR strategy…

The author compares traditional test items with modified versions of the same test items for the purpose of making test questions more pertinent to the realities of daily life. (RK)