This book helps educators improve students' ability to write clear, coherent essays in response to on-demand writing prompts. While it focuses on students' abilities to succeed at on-demand writing, it also promotes the teaching of writing as an expression of art and self. For grades 4-12, it provides examples of responses to narrative and…

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of concept map assessments in freshman level general chemistry courses. Two strategies were employed in this study. The first strategy involved the creation of a web based concept mapping program capable of scoring concept maps drawn by students. The second strategy involved comparing different…

Course Progress Survey (CPS) is a scheme allowing students to assess their progress during a course by taking multi-choice answer cards and producing for each student a report sheet listing the correct answers and offering remedial advice for incorrectly answered questions. (Author/MLW)

A method, involving the plotting of scores on a grid, was developed for use in comparing scores from the Gottschalk-Gleser content analysis scales, which have different Black and White norms. These profile forms can be used to pictorially examine psychological state or trait scores derived from speech. (Author/GDC)

The Outside World Experience (OWE) Index--a weighted index of industrial, government, business, consulting, or other experience outside academia--is discussed as an important assessment measure for department faculty. Formulas for calculating the OWE Index as applied to schools, departments, and individual faculty members are included. (SF)

A computer program for analyzing test results is presented. Item analysis and the point biserial correlation coefficient, both generated by this program, are explained and discussed. (MK)

Used the rule-space methodology to analyze performance on a multiple-choice reading comprehension test by students of English as a Second Language in Japan in an international business setting. Findings indicate that the rule-space methodology can explain performance on complex verbal tasks, such as reading tests, and provide diagnostic scores to…

Performance assessment tests have been problematic, and states that have experimented with them have had poor results. The tests have been implemented prematurely and before being adequately researched, which has resulted in problems related to test validity and scoring, student bluffing on answers, high failure rates, accuracy, and student…

Examines the behavior of university students of Italian in Australia as they study the meanings of new Italian words. Repetition of the new words and their meanings was the primary learning strategy employed. Results indicate a need to distinguish between the use of context for "generation" of a new word and the use of context for…

Presents a literature review seeking to answer four questions: (1) What is washback? (2) How does washback work? (3) How can we promote positive washback? and (4) How can we investigate washback? A model is proposed that identifies participants, processes and products which may influence or be influenced by, washback. Strategies for investigating…

Issues that must be addressed in the large-scale application of computerized adaptive testing are explored, including considerations of test design, scoring, test administration, item and item bank development, and other aspects of test construction. Possible solutions and areas in which additional work is needed are identified. (SLD)

Discusses how to implement student self-assessment and large-group assessment in the high school instrumental music classroom. Reports on the students' thoughts about these assessment types. Includes various forms to assist in assessment. (CMK)

This article discusses differentiating reading instruction for gifted students in the primary grades. It discusses the need for pre-assessment to guide teachers' use of curriculum compacting, authentically assessing reading comprehension, asking metacognitive questions to challenge students, using rubrics for students' self-assessment, and using…

C. Davis and M. Cowles (1989) analyzed a total trait anxiety score on the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales (EMAS)--a unidimensional construct that this multidimensional measure does not assess. Data are reanalyzed using the appropriate scoring procedure for the EMAS. Subjects included 145 undergraduates in 1 of 4 testing conditions. (SLD)

Suggestions are provided for future research in item bias detection, reduction of essay-reader variation in setting cut-score levels, and limitations of equating theory. (TJH)