The multidisciplinary nature of English language courses prompts teachers and students to pursue meaningful tasks that delve on significant issues in society. One significant project that classes can develop are advocacy presentations that help stimulate awareness and engagement among different stakeholders. This practical paper presents three…

This article discusses five generally accepted reasons to use data as a part of an educator's ongoing professional practice. Of course, there are many other more specific reasons one might look at data, but these five cover the overarching need in an educational setting. The five major purposes for using data are: (1) To enhance understanding and…

Assessment of learning goals has become the norm in business programs in higher education across the country. This paper offers a methodology for the assessment of both communication skills and research skills within a curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Program. Program level learning goals assessed in this paper are: (1)…

There is no doubt that in the past 10 years, school culture has become a testing culture. But all the "multiple measures" do not really lead one to achieve the three most often cited goals of testing: building proficiency in basic skills, closing achievement gaps, and fostering the top-notch knowledge and skills that students will need…

Assessment of science students is essential for the improvement of instruction. Objectives of science teaching must be clearly spelled out and different evaluation methods should be chosen to test these objectives. Author categorizes objectives of science teaching in three divisions: knowledge, skills, and personality characters. Students'…

The manual was intended to clarify the relationship among annual goals, short-term instructional objectives and performance objectives for special education students in Michigan. An overview of state and federal requirements is followed by analysis of the annual goals (general statements relating to a skill area without specific reference to…

Professional assessment organizations almost universally endorse the use of multiple measures for making education decisions. In practice, however, the concept of multiple measures is defined and applied in many different ways, depending on how we answer two questions--What counts as a "measure"? and How are the multiple measures…

The Prescriptive Mathematics Inventory (PMI)-Level B and a Pupil identification Form (PID) were administered to 22,055 sixth graders in Texas. Results from the PMI are reported in terms of the percentage of students marking the correct response for each of 209 objectives. Panels of mathematics teachers and of mathematics experts rated 40 of these…

As part of an effort to understand and reduce an unacceptable attrition rate at Kirkwood Community College (KCC) in Iowa, a study was conducted to determine students' reasons for coming to the college. All 584 students who applied for admission to KCC in winter 1984 were mailed a copy of the Student Goals Inventory, an instrument which assesses…

This guide is designed to assist school personnel to profile their data on student behavior to support school improvement goal setting. A profile is a document that presents a broad description of student performance in the areas of academic achievement, behavior, and attitude. The profiling process is outlined in eight steps: (1) plan the…

Presents three questions that should be posed and answered to ensure the meaningful appraisal of student capability and achievement. The questions include the purpose of the assessment, enumeration of the particular things being assessed, and how the assessment is being effected. (GS)

Cautions are listed following an examination of the difficulties inherent in the teacher's task of student evaluation and distribution of grades on specific testing devices. (JS)

Comments on the concepts and practices of assessing a student against himself rather than against others. Lists six questions that should be considered in assessing and counseling year eleven students. (GS)