Reports on a case study designed to determine whether marking standards and reliability of assessments change significantly from one occasion to another. Finds a sex bias occurs with both men and women judges, leading to significant changes in the measures for girls, but not for boys. (KO)

A study examined the definition of student academic standing and its relationship to several administrative and academic standards (graduation requirements, grading systems, calendars, curricula, probation categories and procedures, requirements for readmission, dean's lists, and graduation rates) at 25 small colleges at six levels of selectivity.…

Introduces a method for reducing the subjectivity of class participation grades. Suggests the use of a combined peer/professor approach is beneficial and can be acceptable to students. Lists a number of variables which impact upon the activity while accenting the usefulness of the procedure. (KO)

Reviews studies of peer assessment in higher education and describes a study that attempted to capitalize on the benefits of peer assessment in terms of improving the learning process, sharpening critical abilities, and increasing student autonomy. Results indicate a close correspondence between lecturer and peer assessment. (Author/LRW)

Whether anchor item sets varying in difficulty and discrimination affect precision of cutting score equivalents generated through judge rescaling as much as equivalents from score equating was studied with 4 groups of experts and 250 and 1,000 examinees. Results indicate the robustness of judge rescaling and its superiority over equating. (SLD)

Provides discussion and critical analysis of the "dog days" of part-time writing instructors in today's academic world. Compares student writing and teacher evaluation of that writing at vastly different colleges at which the same instructor taught. Considers how teacher attitudes are swayed by institutional setting. (HB)

Because of concern about potential gender and racial bias in medical test grading, score patterns were examined for male and female and for white and African American medical freshmen (n=476) before and after implementation of an anonymous test grading policy. Results indicate no widespread grading bias before the policy change. (Author/MSE)

Describes how one English teacher revised course goals and journal writing assignments to promote better thinking and writing in a college literature course. Concentrates on the way "Beowulf" was taught and the kinds of writing about it that were produced by students as a result. (HB)

Presents a concept-map scheme that provides a consistent syntax and grading system for using concept maps as assessment tools. The grading scheme awards points for demonstrating hierarchies, relationships, branching, and cross links. Examples showing the use of the key are presented. (PR)

This paper describes the development and evolution of a modular pharmacy practice course that uses practitioners as role-model instructors in prepared and impromptu scenarios. The course reviews the top 200 drug products while introducing students to both community and institutional practice settings. Appendices include a summary of the…

Examines the consequences of assigning student grades using test-score averaging on course materials, tests, and learning. Proposes an alternative method of grading based on progressive improvement by the student that emphasizes the learning of concepts. (MDH)

Reviews a case that vindicates the principle of judicial noninterference in academic evaluation of students. Describes the strategy of the lawyers who represented the academic institution. Discusses alternative approaches for serving the competing values at stake in grading decisions. (52 footnotes) (MLF)

Describes assessment in the German school system as regular, systematic, and officially controlled through legislation. Emphasizes that even strict grading levels combine criterion and norm referencing because teacher determination must include a subjective element. Concludes that other systems may best learn negative lessons from the German…

The principal is uniquely positioned to help teachers plan for instruction, especially in the areas of student evaluation and grading. One approach is conducting inservice programs to promote an evaluation-based model of teacher planning incorporating both the objectives- and activities-based planning models. Teachers can then match assessment…

Teachers' merit pay and students' grades depend on valid evaluations and are functions of many factors besides the quality of work being evaluated. If individual merit cannot be validly determined as a basis for rewards, then there is not a fair system of merit rewards for teachers and students. (SM)