Addresses issues arising concerning work undertaken by the National Center for Education Statistics to begin development of a National Assessment of College Student Learning (NACSL). Reviews assessment forms; identifies conditions assessment of "advanced ability to communicate" should meet; suggests how the communication component of the…

Responds to letters to the editor regarding comments on semantics, psychometrics, and assessment reform regarding authentic assessment of student academic achievements. Suggests that psychometric concerns need to be addressed. (MMU)

Reports the use of the Extended Logistic Model (ELM) of Rasch (D. Andrich, 1988) to validate the reduction of continuous motor-skill data to categorize performance. Data from 332 Australian preprimary and primary school students show that application of the ELM can provide a check on the quality of the rating mechanism. (SLD)

Examines assessment practices in a middle school mathematics classroom using two criteria for authenticity. Uses two frameworks to examine how well assessment practices meet the two criteria and to consider when the two criteria may be at odds. Contains 24 references. (ASK)

Describes the construction of assessments on inclines and friction from blueprints--or shells--which address the tasks of planning, hands-on, analysis, and application. Examines the reliability and validity of the assessments as well as the comparability of the assessments generated with the shell. Contains 48 references. (Author/WRM)

Used a comparative international format to examine the way performance models are applied in higher education in the United States, England, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The theoretical framework draws on understandings of performance measures as normalizing instruments. Discusses the new conceptualizations of…

Presents a historical perspective of performance measurement, describing types of performance measures, and examining their use in municipal parks and recreation agencies, noting that more and more parks and recreation agencies are developing performance measurement plans for all divisions and units. The benefits movement (specifically, benefits…

Examined the effects of concept maps on the task-related variance components of Political Science performance assessments for 187 college students. Task variance components were unchanged across groups using or not using concept maps. But the person main effect components increased and the task-by-person interaction components decreased for those…

This article first presents background information on outcome or performance-based assessment approaches, including use of portfolios, and then examines the feasibility of using portfolios for assessment in university personal health classes. Suggestions for course planning, instruction, and evaluation are offered. (DB)

Discusses the value of Tombari and Borich's work for explaining the need for authentic teaching and assessment practices, providing assessment techniques, and for inspiring inservice training sessions. (JPB)

Presents personal experiences after receiving under performance criticism at key stage 3. Recommends considering content changes due to changes in the National Curriculum. Discusses ways of making change in the content and applying the new curriculum to education. (YDS)

Examined the effects of classroom-based performance assessment-driven instruction (PA) with 16 teachers randomly assigned to PA and no-Pa conditions. Results show PA-driven instruction can increase teachers' understanding of what PA is and how it might be used to improve mathematics instructional decisions. (SLD)

Encourages the use of authentic tasks and assessment rubrics to round out the assessment of student learning in many college courses. Provides a rationale for these methods and offers several rubrics than can be used in a variety of courses. (EV)

Provides a synthesis of the literature pertaining to the principles and practices of performance measurement, auditing, evaluation, and reporting. Discusses how bringing these elements together in a performance management system can be achieved through refinement of strategic direction, reporting on key measures, and periodic, systematic…

Explores the perceptions of 29 candidates for National Board Certification for Early Adolescent Generalist (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards) of the value of case-based and performance synthesis feedback in a high-stakes assessment of teaching. Teachers learned from both types of feedback, but preferred case-based feedback and…