Techniques for establishing the reliability and validity of student writing assessment are presented. Raters scored collections of elementary students' narrative writing with holistic scores from two rubrics (one established and one new, performance-based rubric). The new rubric proved reliable and valid, though correlational patterns were not…

Describes the developmental process of the Dallas Independent School District Chapter 1 portfolio assessment and compares the portfolio results to the standardized measures available within the district. Concludes that there are two different types of portfolios based on the purpose intended, accountability or instructional improvement. (SM)

This study examined preservice teachers' perspectives of a required portfolio construction and review in one course. Interviews, surveys, reflective statements, and videotapes indicated that students initially questioned it, but after review with faculty and peers, they valued what they learned about their own knowledge of content, teaching and…

Describes the need and prospects for alternative assessment approaches in online learning environments in higher education. Explains the difference between assessment and evaluation and discusses three approaches to integrating alternative assessment approaches into online learning environments: cognitive assessment, performance assessment, and…

Describes how the teacher education paradigm of the facilitating reflective educator was adopted to encourage development of reflective practitioners. Professional portfolios were incorporated into the preservice program as an admission requirement for student internships. The rationale behind portfolio usage, implementation and continuance of the…

Stresses that teacher educators should model portfolio assessment in their classrooms in order to encourage reflective thinking and develop future teachers' notions of assessment. Describes the aspects of the theme-based portfolio. Discusses how to evaluate theme-based portfolios, providing questions for peer review and a microteaching peer…

Describes experiences of three second graders taking standardized achievement tests. Maintains that many children lose learning time and confidence over test results that are not adequately explained to parents. Argues that samples of children's work over time better document growth and that young children should be viewed in terms of widely held…

Project SELECT (Special Education Licensing for Emergency Certified Teachers) was created to alleviate Wisconsin's teacher shortage for students with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances by offering practicing teachers an opportunity to receive vital training and certification for teaching such students. The program includes an…

Describes the design and implementation of an integrated art and science curriculum "Genetic Robotics: A Three-Dimensional Scientific Inquiry" for high school art and biology students at Madeira Junior/Senior High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. States that the project aimed at recognizing individual differences while enabling students to become…

Forty-eight portfolio projects were completed by 65 urban, infant-toddler childcare workers who participated in a professional development program designed to increase the quality of childcare for children with and without disabilities. Results indicated a significantly higher number of strengths-based themes in child stories written after…

Web-based peer assessment is an innovative method that can be used to assess students' learning portfolios in order to improve their learning. However, students cannot easily compare their own evaluation schemes or think reflectively to improve their learning through web-based peer assessment if they do not understand how others perceive the…

Over the last decade, remote instruments have become widely used in astronomy. Educational applications are more recent. This paper describes a program to bring radio astronomy into the undergraduate classroom through the use of a remote research-grade radio telescope, the MIT Haystack Observatory 37 m telescope. We examine the effectiveness of…

This paper deals with a required methods course, based on the national curriculum of science and technology for junior high schools. The course participants are pre-service teachers who study towards a B.Sc. degree in education in science and technology parallel to their studies in one of the faculties of sciences or engineering. Working in small…

In this paper, I propose that we need to develop an appropriate set of conceptual tools for examining motivational issues pertaining to linguistic diversity, mobility and social integration in a rapidly changing and expanding Europe. I begin by drawing on research that has begun to reframe the concept of integrative motivation in the context of…

This is the second part of a two-part article on the diffusion of electronic portfolios in preservice teacher education. The first part addressed issues of adoption and implementation; this part documents "next steps" and key recommendations by informants from the six programs studied. Next steps included streamlining requirements, addressing…