This article describes results for students with mild disabilities who participated in the Kansas science assessment involving cooperative groups. Individual achievement, attitude, and project scores were consistent with expectations in relation to results for general education students. The study did not find that participation of students with…

Examines whether second-language (L2) learners' interaction with other L2 learners can address their input, output, and feedback needs for L2 learning in ways interaction with native speakers (NSs) had been shown to do. Results indicate interaction between L2 learners can address some of these needs, but it does not provide as much modified input…

Describes the application of the Instruction Parsed Corpus as data in the Word Class Drills version 1.0 (WCD v1.0), a simple CALL program teaching word classes or grammatical parts of speech. The WCD v1.0 provides two modes of language learning activities, "viz.", the learning mode and the testing mode. (three references) (Author/CK)

Presents a critical appraisal of Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" (1994) and of its analyses of social class, ethnic differences, and public policy proposals. It refutes as cultural superstition the book's theories on the role of intelligence in the social stratification of postindustrial America and the effects of IQ on social…

Ontario's Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an independent agency, answerable to the public, created in 1995 in response to input from educators, policymakers, parents, students, and citizens to do large-scale assessments and give objective and informed recommendations for educational improvements. Gives EQAO core values and 10…

Argues that the usefulness of strictly quantitative research is still questioned in educational studies, primarily due to deficiencies in methodological training. Uses a critique of a recent study by Heitmeyer et al. (1995) to illustrate the requirements of "good" empirical research. Considers the problems of hypothesis testing in field research.…

Mountains of data over 10 years show that the educational sky is not falling. This article deplores critics' disregard of the Sandia Report, American policymakers' test-craziness and education/economic productivity obsessions, the overrated "Texas Miracle," National Education Goals, and weighty student backpacks. (MLH)

Explores primary school teachers' perspectives on assessment in English in Singapore and discusses the impact of assessment on the importance of research into teachers' views on curriculum and assessment issues. Participants completed questionnaires and participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate teachers are strongly aware of…

Summarizes the recent history of education reform and statewide testing in Texas. Suggest that analyses comparing Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) reading, writing, and mathematics scores with one another and relevant high school grades raise doubts about the reliability and validity of TAAS scores. Discusses these problems. (SLD)

Discusses the use of multimedia to facilitate learning processes; reviews research that addresses specific effects of media; and describes studies of high school students that tested the influence of video, photography, and individualized testing on acceptance and recall of information provided by a multimedia encyclopedia about professions and…

Presents guidelines for developing close translations of tests into other languages, presenting an example that applies these guidelines to translation into Spanish of the Cognitive- Based Literacy Assessment-Revised (CBLA-R) for first and second graders. A case is made that translations which ignore the language systems and culture of limited…

The top-down, heavy-handed "Tougher Standards" movement has taken over many schools, with full support of business groups, politicians, and many journalists. Primary opponents are classroom teachers and parents. Raising standards translates into higher scores on poorly designed tests. Best teaching builds on actively learning students. (MLH)

Discusses five lasting 20th-century education reforms: ability grouping, testing, district/school consolidation, vocational education, and specialization. The future seems aimed at personalized instruction, smaller schools, less differentiation between academic and vocational education, greater trust in local governance units, and philosophic…

High-stakes tests can set a clear, challenging hurdle for students and schools, while increasing the numbers of failing kids. Costs and benefits include increased equity, clear and focused curricula, efficient use of resources, achievement-based school personnel evaluations, limited local decision making, narrow curriculum, and favored course…

A study investigated the criterion validity and comparability of scores on the Miller Analogies Test when accommodations for 15 undergraduates with learning disabilities were in place. Scores from test administrations with accommodations were similar to those of controls on standard administrations, but less well associated with grade point…