This report demonstrates that alternative assessments, nonstandardized ways of assessment, are more comprehensive ways of exhibiting student achievement. Alternative assessment includes such things as portfolios, checklists, rubrics, surveys, student-involved assignments, and reflections. The population for this study consisted of fifth, seventh,…

This study examined principal internship portfolios required by two universities for principal interns, focusing on principal interns' activity participation. At each institution, principal interns undertook at least one semester-long internship experience which required collaborative work with various education stakeholders. The internship was…

The question of how to use technology effectively in the assessment of teacher candidates to demonstrate achievement of course objectives based on state certification standards led to the development of the electronic portfolio project at a small university teacher credential program. The process of preparing an electronic portfolio using computer…

Since 1997, the Amsterdam Faculty of Education (EFA) has been officially recognized as a center for experimental teacher education. This paper describes the development of an assessment system and a World Wide Web-based portfolio system to help students take responsibility for their learning and their competence at three consecutive integrative…

Describes the College Board's Pacesetter Program, high school courses developed using principles of ongoing performance testing and portfolios, standards, and curriculum. The model is illustrated in a description of the Voices of Modern Culture language arts course. Argues that this assessment process has systemic validity and is more relevant to…

Recounts the development and implementation of a portfolio assessment program for student teachers. The program developed a set of goals for the portfolio experience and tied these to reflective questions concerning classroom management, reading/language arts, and videotaped lesson teaching. The portfolio assessment resulted in significant student…

This survey of educators examined validity issues in Arizona's program of authentic assessment of written communication. The paper concludes that authentic measures lack meaningful standards. Major flaws were reported in the areas of "fairness,""transfer and generalizability,""content quality," and…

Discusses the portfolio method of student assessment in the Educational Leadership program at Auburn University Montgomery (Alabama). Highlights include the procedures, format, components, and assessment practices utilized; perceptions of university faculty, students, and prospective employers; and the future of leadership portfolio assessment.…

Reviews personalized instruction models, highlighting contributions of DPIE (diagnosis, prescription, implementation, and evaluation), continuous-progress education, the open-school movement, portfolio assessment, cognitive apprenticeships, and Levin's Accelerated Learning program. All these models profile learning characteristics and promote…

A K-8 school owned and operated by the Minneapolis-based Tesseract Group (formerly Educational Alternatives, Inc.) has partnered teachers and parents in decisions concerning curriculum and instructional strategies. Class enrollment is capped at 24, and two state-licensed teachers work in each classroom to help students complete projects for…

Analyses of 10 raters' reasoning during think-aloud interviews provided evidence to support a model of the fundamental processes involved in rating standards-based, nonprescriptive portfolios. This process model provides a framework within which to conceptualize sound-rater reasoning and to identify reasoning that distorts the meaning of scores.…

Examines six constraints on teachers' ability to promote higher-order thinking in the classroom (schedule, student attitudes, teacher attitudes, resources, atmosphere, and assessment). Explores possibilities for overcoming such constraints, including block scheduling, integration of the curriculum and thematic teacher, portfolio assessment,…

Portfolios, as authentic assessment tools, have become a common element in the curriculum of many college and K-12 classrooms across the nation during the past decade. The continuing advancement of technology has held broad implications for facilitating the further development and refinement of the portfolio as a mainstay element of education in…

Argues that inclusion of children with disabilities into various preschool settings presents opportunities for early childhood educators to address issues of differences through the use of effective tools and teaching strategies. Suggests that a journal-type portfolio is a tool early-childhood educators can use to enhance the acceptance of…

As part of an undergraduate course, 147 preservice teachers graded components of an imaginary eighth grader's language-arts portfolio over a 10-week period. Subsequent participant interviews revealed that grading was influenced by the prescribed grading policy, but also by the perceived appropriateness of assessment instruments and the holistic…