Proposes that chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and arithmetic form a base from which students can focus on consumer issues. Describes a hands-on science program that stresses real world topics and employs portfolios which consist of a term paper, a student designed experiment, lab reports, and tests. (DDR)

Discusses interactive software's ability to allow hands-on learning and help students integrate disciplines by performing creative problem solving. Notes that interactive software allows for meaningful performance-based assessment through the creation of video portfolios of student work. Highlights the growing popularity of performance-based…

Describes the use of student-led conferences in place of traditional teacher-parent conference. Notes that conferences reflect curricular change to reading and writing workshops and thematic studies, belief that students should take responsibility for their own literacy behaviors, and use of portfolio assessment. (TM)

Describes the practices of an eighth-grade English teacher who emphasizes a language-rich curriculum and how she balances reading and writing activities; also discussed are how she integrates grammar instruction, parent involvement, modeling of effect writing practices, core readings, peer conferences, teacher-student trust, individualized…

This article recommends the use of professional portfolios in preservice preparation of teachers of students with behavioral disorders and describes the graduate program in behavioral disorders at Western Carolina University (North Carolina). Program development involved determination of competencies and a format for individual project…

This study examined whether using teaching portfolios would affect the meaning given to basic concepts in education by preservice teachers. Preservice teachers from two universities completed surveys before and after an experimental group was trained in teaching portfolios. At the semester's end, there were noticeable shifts in meaning…

Describes how parents became involved in the portfolio student assessment process at a suburban elementary school, focusing on strategies found to be effective in promoting parent collaboration. Presents information on strategies such as giving information on the process to parents through meetings and a weekly principal newsletter and having…

Describes how conceptual frameworks, portfolio assessment, and faculty mentoring were used to transition a teacher preparation program to a standards-based approach, explaining that standards-based teacher education and authentic assessments have the potential to greatly change teacher preparation programs, though there must be ways to ensure that…

Describes the planning involved in implementing child-led parent/school conferences to review student portfolios in one second-grade classroom. Notes that the second graders conducted parent conferences very effectively, there was almost 100% attendance at the portfolio night, and no parent asked for a private conference with the teacher. Includes…

School health educators encourage the use of portfolios to demonstrate student learning. Electronic portfolios can solve problems inherent in traditional portfolios, reducing storage space and allowing video, audio, and interactive components to be included in documenting student growth. This paper describes benefits of electronic portfolios,…

Examines the use of portfolio assessment in a distance education program for research information skills at the University of South Africa. Discusses the assessment of information literacy and online searching skills; portfolio assessment criteria; student attitudes; validity and reliability of portfolio assessment; and problems. (LRW)

Too often school counselors are evaluated through a teacher-assessment process bearing little relevance to (poorly defined) counseling tasks or roles. Evaluation is hindered by lack of a developmental model and by administrative pressures to perform tasks outside counselors' training and experience. Improvement measures are outlined. (Contains 16…

Discusses problems facing science education supervisors and suggests possible solutions. Comments on the experiences of beginning teachers, portfolio compilation, mentoring, and the evaluation and selection of curricular and technological innovations. (Contains 14 references.) (WRM)

Discusses convergent tests and divergent students, examining why there are so many divergencies in students' interpretation of tests of reading comprehension used in college English-as-a-Second-Language classes. After discussing factors affecting divergency, the paper concludes that portfolios, compiled and graded after discussing errors with…

Focuses on fairness in assessing oral language prerequisites for literacy and providing equity of access to appropriate interventions. Discusses assets and limitations of norm- and criterion-referenced testing, behavioral ratings, portfolio assessments, and self-evaluation. Emphasizes multidimensional, multi-perspective assessments, and selected…