Many teachers use cooperative learning methods during instruction but face the problem of aligning evaluation techniques with that instruction. Described are methods to include cooperative problem solving in evaluation, including strategies to identify possible grading schemes, to make appropriate problem choices, and to evaluate individual versus…

Describes a study that examined the evolution of students' perceptions in grades 4 through 10 concerning computers over the course of 3 years. The use of Clark's concept of media attributions is explained; and results related to the three dependent variables of preference, perceived learning, and perceived difficulty are reported. (32 references)…

Development of educational testing in Hungary is reviewed regarding recent political and social changes. Relatively few areas in the educational system use tests regularly. The current political climate is expected to bring new standardized tests. A national core curriculum is planned with more autonomy for local-level and school-level decisions.…

Describes a study conducted at the University of Southern Mississippi to examine the attitudes of professors of educational administration toward school library media program information in school principal preparation programs. Characteristics of the professors are discussed, and the influence of guidelines contained in "Information…

Item analysis data were collected for the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test and Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test, from urban and rural Alberta (Canada) youngsters and Inuit youngsters from the Northwest Territories (Canada). Both tests were inadequate in individual item difficulty levels, suggesting the necessity of revising scoring systems and…

The factorial validity of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the equivalence of factorial measurements and structure across groups were studied for 163 intermediate-grade teachers, 162 secondary school teachers, and 218 university teachers in Canada. Reasons why the MBI may not be appropriate for university educators are discussed. (SLD)

Washington State reform themes include movement from input- to output-based systems, student performance standards, and certification of mastery; shift from standardized testing to performance-based measurement; blurred distinctions between grades and schooling levels; greater local control in implementing teaching, learning, and assessment…

A study of self-report depressive symptoms measured by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale was conducted in Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and the United States with 953 college students. There are marked differences among countries in symptoms reported. Research designs and measurement strategies for cross-cultural research are discussed. (SLD)

Describes a study of Texas public elementary schools that was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences between professional and paraprofessional media specialists in personality traits, interaction patterns with school staff, and status as an indicator of their perceived expertise in instructional matters among classroom…

Forms and characteristics of small group physics instruction in the Russian university are examined and in some cases, compared to those used in Britain. Topics discussed include the lecture method, classroom communication during lectures, postlecture discussion, specialized small-audience lectures, problem solving, individual research projects,…

Reforms in American schools should concentrate on the development of higher-order skills and on assessments that support them. Reform should move beyond conventional tests that are of little use to students. Applications of cognitive psychology in the real world, including cognitive apprenticeships and interactive learning environments, are…

Reviews educational research on social class, gender, and ethnic bias. Argues that constructing assessment instruments is a complex task, involving social and political assumptions as well as technical expertise. Calls for additional research on the impact of assessment on self-esteem and other issues related to test bias. (CFR)

New academic self-concept measures were used to assess self-concepts for 234 boys in grades 5 and 6 (13 subjects) and 524 boys in grades 7 through 10 (16 subjects) at a Catholic boys school in Sydney (Australia) and to test the Marsh/Shavelson model. Academic self-concept is remarkably subject specific. (SLD)

A computerized method is described whereby a mirror image pair of drawings, simultaneously drawn by the right and the left hands, can be compared. This BASIC computer program, which is available from the authors, has applications to a variety of psychological studies. (Author/JJK)

The working memory hypothesis that the development of span in children is related to increasing proficiency in the use of an articulatory loop was tested in two studies with 120 Canadian children in grades 5 and 6 and 11 and 12. Some support was found for the hypothesis. (SLD)