This paper presents preliminary research findings, using qualitative and quantitative methods, on the washback effect of the revised Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in English in Hong Kong secondary schools. The research employed various methodological techniques such as questionnaires (one sent out to 42 students; and the other to…

Mathematics success or failure is noted as possibly related to the way in which material is presented rather than to the subject itself. Teachers are encouraged to have pupils complete a questionnaire that is designed to measure their mathematical "state of health." Instructors are told to identify learning styles. (Author/MP)

To assess the effectiveness of various composition evaluation methods, a study asked two freshman English classes to respond to three questionnaires on the writing of personal essays and methods of evaluation they had experienced. Responses indicated that all students had a fear of having their essays evaluated. Evaluation methods considered a…

As part of a competency-based education approach, a module for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher training is presented that aims to increase the teacher's skills in involving learners in needs assessment (NA) and goal setting activities. A classroom NA is a survey of students designed to identify learners' educational needs and goals as…

This manual is a product of the portfolio assessment project, a 3-year project on the use of portfolios as an assessment measure in elementary through higher education foreign language classrooms. Portfolio assessment is the systematic, longitudinal collection of student work created in response to specific, known instructional objectives and…

Describes a method for helping autonomous groups work effectively on problem solving without a facilitator. Application in a British part-time course for tutors working with adult learners is described; group dynamics are discussed; evaluation methods are explained; and detailed instructions for using this method are provided in the appendixes.…

Seeking to foster in children a love of books and reading, this 3-week curriculum module is designed to encourage third graders to read independently and to develop an awareness of the intrinsic value of reading by helping students acquire those library skills necessary to access literature, setting up strategies for students to use to assess…

A description is presented of the construction and use of a questionnaire for evaluating freshman science courses. It uses a forced choice technique to measure student expectations, influence on students, and faculty objectives. Field tests are used to estimate the procedure's validity and reliability. (Author/MSE)

The guide is designed to assist second language teachers in developing and conducting reliable and valid assessments in their classrooms. A wide range of formal and informal evaluation techniques is discussed, including a number of alternative approaches. An introductory chapter gives an overview of the uses and aims of evaluation and previews the…

Five exercises based on a sample school dress code were designed from a political science perspective to help students develop skills in analyzing issues. The exercises are intended to be used in five or more class periods. In the first exercise, students read a sample dress code and name groups of people who might have opinions about it. In…

Regardless of how well your students are scoring on standardized math tests, test scores can't tell you which aspects of your program are moving students from proficient to advanced and why some students are falling behind. To get a total picture of math learning, hundreds of schools in urban, suburban, and rural districts use the detailed,…

The percentage of universities using student ratings to evaluate teacher performance is steadily increasing, but this method can be abused if it is the sole criterion of evaluation. Recent surveys of faculty attitudes towards teaching evaluation indicate that most faculty members are in favor of systematic evaluation, prefer student ratings to…

This comprehensive and easy-to-read book explores both the theory and practice of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) assessment and is full of work samples, ideas, organizers, and personal experiences that all readers can use or adapt for their own situations. The primary goal is to provide proven and effective assessment methods. As ESL students…

Materials and approaches that college faculty can use to evaluate their instruction are described. This guide, prepared by a University of North Dakota (UND) faculty task force, describes new instruments, guidance for developing forms, ideas for interviewing and observing students, and suggestions for other approaches, including self-evaluation,…

This report and resource package is the result of a one-year developmental research and utilization project dealing with multimodal career education for nursing students. First, a report is presented that outlines the purposes, methods and procedures, and results of the project. Discussed in a position paper of the problem of retaining nurses in…