Briefly reviews different methods to evaluate student laboratory work and describes the procedures followed in using laboratory performance tests at Mercer University. Cites five sample performance-test tasks and materials needed. (SK)

Discusses the results of the 1975 Examination for General Chemistry, and summarizes descriptive statistics as well as ten different subsets of instructional topics. The major results and conclusions are reported in three separate profiles. (HM)

Described is the development of a test battery measuring nine enquiry skills in three general areas: using reference materials, interpreting and processing information, critical thinking in science. Validation data are reported from the administration to a large sample of junior high science students. (CS)

Since all commonly used latent trait models assume a unidimensional test, the applicability of the procedure to obviously multidimensional tests is questionable. This paper presents the results of the application of latent trait, traditional, and factor analyses to a series of actual and hypothetical tests that vary in factoral complexity.…

Test analysis and instructional differentiation can help minorities. Minorities can survive and benefit by the testing craze if a systematic attempt is made to educate and to deal with attitudes in the home, the school, and the total community. (Author/MC)

Examines a sampling of current ESL reading instruction practices, addressing the concern that the lack of a generally accepted theory of L2 reading constitutes a major obstacle to teaching and testing ESL reading skills. Summarizes the results of two studies and discusses their implications for ESL teachers. (MES)

The development and testing of an information mapped programed text on critical path method for an MBA elective at a British business school is described. The results show that information mapping gave satisfactory learning results when used as a self-instructional method under these circumstances. Five references are listed. (Author/CHC)

Describes a study undertaken to assess interference from two languages for learners of French. Suggests that susceptibility to interference is related to a number of factors, such as level of proficiency in the target language, and the degree and type of similarity between the target and the base language. (MES)

The article describes the capabilities and features of basic microcomputer systems and describes special education applications: computer assisted instruction, prosthesis, testing, communication, and enhancing personal relations. Problems such as the availability of authoring languages, high quality educational software, and computer safety are…

Examines whether retesting: (1) affects achievement of students (N=95) grouped according to previous achievement in science; and (2) influences students to delay studying and perform at a low level on initial tests. Also examines whether procrastination of retested students is affected by their achievement level. (DS)

Lack of independent review process in professional schools and refusal of courts to review errors not resulting from arbitrariness, caprice, or bad faith leave student and societal interests in accurate grading inadequately protected. (Journal availability: University of the Pacific, 3201 Donner Way, Sacramento, CA 95817.) (MSE)

Test validity, coaching, the college admissions process, and achievement tests are discussed by the director of the Iowa Testing Programs. Data published on the SAT are examined. It is suggested that systematic instruction in problem-solving skills may improve not only test performance but also skills the test is designed to assess. (Author/MLW)

Responses by academic department heads in higher education institutions are reported regarding the current situation and recent trends in assessment purposes and practices; problems observed, improvements favored and suspected barriers to those improvements; and rules, policies, controls and review procedures are included. The author's comments on…

Reviews the Farmers' Functional Literacy Programme and various definitions of literacy, and describes a study in four villages of Deoria (India) to investigate the relationship between farmers' literacy status and their adoption of improved agricultural practices. Discusses the indicated trend toward agricultural improvement with rising literacy…

With a sample of 113 undergraduate education majors using self-instructional materials, this study investigated possible interactions of aptitude and treatment between the cognitive styles of field-dependence and field-independence and (1) active-responding or passive-responding teaching strategies and (2) immediate or delayed posttest evaluation…