Presents the results of a research project LeiHS, which investigated the assessment and feedback on achievement in Hamburg (Germany) schools. Shows that students and parents accept assessment and prefer reports where the grades are accompanied by comments on individual achievement in different subjects. Interviews students about their achievement…

Discusses how contract grading promotes quality writing as well as a larger quantity of writing. Considers how teachers can use contract grading to support and promote the behaviors, thinking skills, and writing skills they believe will help students create quality writing. Notes that contract grading leads students to write more, to have fewer…

Compared the performance of four polytomous item response theory (IRT) and three linear models for constructing adjusted grade-point-average (GPA) measures. Studies involving cohorts of 1,255 and 1,796 college students and an additional 1,823 and 1,879 college students. Discusses implications of findings for correlation of grade-based measures and…

Suggests 17 strategies for avoiding teacher burnout in evaluating business communication assignments (since grading appears to be one of the most overwhelming and frustrating aspects of teaching business communications). (SR)

A study of fifth and sixth grade public school students in Israel suggests that grades and other norm-referenced methods are less effective than task-involving evaluation methods in enhancing student performance, interest, and motivation. This article consists of two commentaries on the findings, with suggestions for implementing task-involving…

Outlines a plan for evaluating written work in business communication, rating three aspects of writing: tone and logic, mechanics, and program (the appropriate approach for a particular assignment). Notes that this plan is an effective and objective way to evaluate students' writing projects. (MM)

Reports results from surveys of secondary school teachers regarding what they are doing with respect to homework, grading, and testing for students with and without disabilities. Discusses implications for inclusion programs. (SR)

If evaluation is to communicate and promote student learning, it must be separated into formative and summative components. A grading policy that provides nonthreatening feedback (via observation of student work, group evaluation activities, classroom participation, homework, reports, discussions, and portfolios) can help students concentrate on…

Describes a dual grading process for business writing assignments, initiated to expose students to collaborative evaluation and to verify instructor evaluation. Maintains that receiving feedback from both teacher and students reinforce students' confidence in the evaluation process while teaching them about audience expectations. (SR)

Presents a fictionalized story based on a case study research project involving a teacher who believes strongly in reform but whose efforts are largely thwarted by her grading system, which focuses on traditional activities. (MKR)

Argues that advent of computer-aided instruction (CAI) systems for teaching introductory computer programing makes it imperative that software be developed to automate assessment and grading of student programs. Examples of typical student programing problems are given, and application of the Unix tools Lex and Yacc to the automatic assessment of…

Use of peer assessment as a method of differentiating between individual students on a group project is examined. A peer appraisal questionnaire and a method for calculating a peer assessment factor from it are presented. The method's use in a large course and some possible modifications are discussed. The questionnaire is appended. (Author/MSE)

Examines and defines concept maps, describes how concept maps are constructed, and explains why concept mapping is a workable tool for meaningful learning and understanding. Compares concept maps with objective and essay exams and offers evaluation/scoring suggestions. (RS)

Reviews the current state of electronic gradebook software programs. Discusses what they can do, their use and their shortcomings, and database management and electronic spreadsheet programs. (SR)

A survey of medicine clerkship directors in 101 United States and Puerto Rican medical schools found descriptor grades the most commonly used, letter grades next most common, and numerical grading systems used by 4 schools. However, there was a lack of consistency in the descriptor grades used. (Author/MSE)