Assessment is primarily a matter of judgement rather than measurement, yet for too long the nation has been pretending that pupils' attainment and measurement can be measured in increasingly fine detail (one APS "point" being one sixth of an original National Curriculum level). The lack of validity and reliability of this approach…

In this article Jonny Sluman describes how he adapted an interactive DVD quiz game at a Christmas family get-together into an exciting, creative science activity to teach his students. The rounds included: a "quick fire" question round, a "what happened next" round, a music round, and a "spot the difference" round.…

An in-class activity is described that can be used not only to motivate hypothesis testing, but also to understand and compute the p-value and power in a statistical test. (Contains 3 figures.)

The authors evaluated the effects of P-SELL, a science curricular and professional development intervention for fifth-grade students with a focus on English language learners (ELLs). Using a randomized controlled trial design with 33 treatment and 33 control schools across three school districts in one state, we found significant and meaningfully…

This column focuses on promoting learning through assessment. In 1999, a group of researchers from Indiana University and Purdue University decided to investigate data about students' ideas in science by inviting National Science Teachers Association members to participate in a research study about children's conceptions of animals. Published in…

Describes development of tests of student progress and instructional efficiency for 12 Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) units by the Fayette County (Kentucky) schools. Separate tests for each unit (grades one to six) were developed and a subset of items for each major part of a unit were identified. (JN)

This inventory, developed for use with the Harvard Project Physics curriculum, consists of 135 two-choice (agree-disagree) items. Items cover perceptions of the role of scientists, the nature and functions of theories, underlying assumptions made by scientists, and other aspects of the scientific process. The test is suitable for high school…

Details the Fairfax County, Virginia elementary science program, a key feature of which is the use of self-contained kits and instructional materials. Shows how the curriculum has improved students' achievement tests scores and is beginning to be adapted for mathematics, computer, and music education. (SK)

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to develop a paper and pencil science process test for fifth-grade students based on some of the goals for grades 3-5 of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS); and (2) to use this test and other tests to compare fifth-grade students who had been in the SCIS program for five consecutive years…

Included are performance-based test items for students completing the Unit I, Level 1, Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) materials. There are 25 specific performance objectives listed in the beginning which are later followed by several test items for each. Correct answers are given for each test question. Observation techniques are…

This publication provides examples of test items which can be used to test the performance of students after completing activities of Unit 1, Level II, in the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) materials. A total of 30 performance-based objectives are listed by several question items. Correct answers are provided. The publication is…

Describes changes and effects of the Israeli paper-and-pencil matriculation examination in biology since first analysis in 1972. The examination has been significant for implementing an inquiry-oriented high school biology program based on the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. Implications for upgrading science education are discussed.…

The reform of elementary and secondary school science education in the United States has received renewed attention with the publication of several science reform documents and the 1989 Education Summit sponsored by the nation's governors and President Bush. This digest reviews documents which focus on the reform of science education and projects…

Describes the development of the Nuffield chemistry curriculum materials by chemistry teachers and how these materials were received and used by a much larger and representative group of the profession. Includes comments on teaching Nuffield chemistry, the Nuffield examination, and on Nuffield chemistry outside of Great Britain. (JN)

Reported is a study to investigate problems handicapped readers had with the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) test and of a method for adapting the test so that it might be more understandable. Seven questions related to the 1968-1969 ISCS test Probing the Natural World, Volume I were studied. The investigations of these questions was…