Based on statistics from the first few administrations of the SAT writing section, the test is performing as expected. The reliability of the writing section is very similar to that of other writing assessments. Based on preliminary validity research, the writing section is expected to add modestly to the prediction of college performance when…

Authentic assessment is a process involving multiple forms of performance measurement reflecting student learning, achievement, motivation, and attitudes. This article examines types of authentic assessment (interviews, story or text retelling, writing samples, projects and exhibitions, experiments and demonstrations, constructed response items,…

This study extends previous research on the relationships among intelligibility, perceived comprehensibility, and accentedness. The researchers obtained accent and comprehensibility ratings and transcriptions of accented speech of Cantonese, Japanese, Polish, and Spanish intermediate English-as-a-Second-Language students from native English…

Discusses the format of a semester course and provides details about grading, formative assessment, research papers, lecture activities, cooperative examinations, use of spreadsheets, and open-ended laboratory projects. Contains 15 references. (DDR)

Analyzes the computer program, "Question Mark," produced in England and designed to be a testing tool for large second-language classes. Using this tool, it is possible to create and edit up to 500 questions using any one of 8 different question types. The program also can provide a running score for students using it. Notes that student…

The extent to which performance assessments can have unintended and undesirable consequences is not yet clear, but preliminary evidence suggests several issues of bias and fairness. Among these is the sheer difficulty of scoring complex performance assessments, as Vermont's experiences with portfolio assessment illustrate. (SLD)

Reviews current student-assessment practices, highlighting alternative-assessment definitions and terminology, portfolio-assessment methods, holistic and analytic scoring rubrics, and improved traditional approaches. Educators must reconsider the wisdom of traditional practice, while giving a fair hearing to new approaches. Fundamental changes in…

A discussion of the National Board of Medical Examiners' (NBME) pass-fail grading for Part I and Part II examinations gives background on procedures previously used for setting criterion-based grading standards, gives an overview of research on standard-setting, and outlines NBME plans for determining new standards and incorporating improvements.…

Presents a check list of three-tiered rubrics to help administrators assess their own technological literacy in information systems use, record keeping and budgeting, data use, communication skills, online research, identification of teacher and student competencies, envisioning and planning, and ethical use and policy making. (MLH)

Argues that the method of "collaborative modelling" developed to teach reading skills may be utilized in generating and assessing pupil talk within the classroom. Pupil pairs were given different texts from science, English, and geography and asked to re-present them in another form. Results indicate the value of the talk emerging from…

A scoring algorithm for performance assessments is described that is based on expert judgments but requires the rating of only a sample of performances. A regression-based policy capturing procedure was implemented for clinicians evaluating skills of 280 medical students. Results demonstrate the usefulness of the algorithm. (SLD)

In this study, the author adapted reciprocal teaching strategies for use with her kindergarten students. Using puppets to help model strategies, she implemented a series of lessons that showed students how to retell, ask questions, and predict what would happen in a story that was read aloud. The purpose was to provide students with comprehension…

No one can dispute that tests should measure important content, and for many (but not all) purposes, tests should be aligned with curricular goals. Thus in many cases, alignment is clearly better than the alternative, and nothing that follows here argues otherwise. Unfortunately, however, this does not imply that alignment is sufficient protection…

Preschool-age children who are experiencing delays in physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, or adaptive development are often referred for a comprehensive assessment to make diagnostic determinations and to help develop appropriate interventions. Typically cognitive assessment has a key role in a comprehensive evaluation of a…

Technology today offers many new opportunities for innovation in educational assessment through rich new assessment tasks and potentially powerful scoring, reporting and real-time feedback mechanisms. One potential limitation for realizing the benefits of computer-based assessment in both instructional assessment and large scale testing comes in…