Presents a guide for selecting an optional disc system. Highlights include storage hierarchy; standards; data life cycles; security; implementing an optical jukebox system; optimizing the system; performance; quality and reliability; software; cost of online versus near-line; and growing opportunities. Sidebars provide additional information on…

Some unfinished issues relating to achievement test theory that seemed implicit in the basic idea of criterion-referenced testing are reviewed, recognizing their importance in current studies of authentic assessment and performance-based tests. The future of performance-based evaluation is explored. (SLD)

Comparative effectiveness of two instructional methods, one based on situated cognition and the other a traditional classroom-based presentation, were studied with 49 4th graders being instructed in map skills. Advantages of the situated cognition approach are demonstrated. (SLD)

Differences in the Texas Teacher Appraisal System scores of teacher subgroups over 2 years were examined for 2,366 teachers for scores on individual domains, sums of scores of the 1st 4 domains, and overall summary performance scores, as well as appraiser differences. Implications for teacher evaluation are discussed. (SLD)

Graduates (n=638) of Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) were divided into primary care and nonprimary care physicians and compared on performance measures, professional activities, satisfaction, problems, and research productivities. A logistic regression model could predict primary care-nonprimary care status from specialty interest,…

Whether adequate levels of interrater reliability could be obtained on a national, standardized examination using one examiner per observation was studied with 101 paired candidate observations on an examination for optometry. Results indicate that psychometrically sound judgments can be obtained with one examiner. (SLD)

Results of 2 experiments involving 305 college students suggest that instructor gender role is more important than instructor gender in affecting student evaluations and that both female and male students prefer instructors with both feminine and masculine characteristics, regardless of gender. (SLD)

This article attempts to outline the issues and to describe the process of developing a metaevaluation framework for assessing the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the performance-assessment instruments being created by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The metaevaluation framework consists of a set of evaluation…

Twenty-eight students (grades six through eight) with severe learning disabilities (LD) received group or individual intervention with either induced positive or neutral moods. The positive affect condition in the individual setting increased coding task performance the most for students with LD. Subjects receiving the neutral affect induction,…

A teacher relates how Foxfire and authentic assessment have changed her view of teaching, learning, and the nature of classwork itself. Proposes that conventional education not only supports belief in a large competence gap between students and teachers, but also perpetuates misconceptions concerning the nature of knowledge, self-worth, and…

Physical educators can help students set goals to achieve maximum physical fitness. Educators should continually assess students' progress toward their goals, repeatedly updating goals and activities for reaching the goals. The article explains how to determine students' fitness levels and includes a fitness components activity sheet and class…

Effects of frequent ungraded tests on graded unit tests, instructional strategy preference, and student ratings of course and instructor were studied with 82 undergraduates. Mean performance on unit tests did not differ for experimental (formative) and control groups, but formative students expressed a preference for the ungraded tests. (SLD)

Describes a survey that determined to what extent human performance technology (HPT) is being taught in 82 academic programs that traditionally emphasized training, including programs in instructional systems, training and development, human resource development, and adult learning. Results indicate that training continues to dominate, and future…

Describes seven primary grade teachers' uses of portfolios to illustrate students' literacy learning, and discusses these teachers' perceptions of the challenges and benefits of portfolio use. Suggests that while portfolio assessment occurs at the classroom level, only when the wider environment supports and is synchronized with the efforts of…

Portfolios are the centerpiece of Vermont's statewide assessment program in mathematics. Portfolio scores in the first two years were not reliable enough to permit the reporting of student-level results, but increasing the number of readers or the number of portfolio pieces is not operationally feasible. (SLD)