A peer evaluation experiment in a British polytechnic institute found peer grading correlated positively with teacher grading. A survey of participants (n=70) found that five advantages of peer marking had been achieved and that students believed their work had been marked fairly and the marks should count toward final grades. (Author/MSE)

A preprinted evaluation form and generalizability theory were used to judge the reliability of student grading of their peers' papers. Findings suggest that students can be consistent and fair in their assessments. Student practice in peer evaluation will help develop the management skill of employee evaluation. (JOW)

Offers teaching tips on thematic writing assignments, student resubmission of papers, sharing memorable sentences from students' writings, and nontraditional grading policies in writing classes. (RDS)

Developers of the Intelligent Essay Assessor claim that it saves time in evaluating college students' essays and improves the assessment. This and the growing number of other automated grading programs use the same technologies that make computer-based tutoring possible. Many academics remain skeptical of grading technologies, citing the…

Describes a quarterly rating system developed to replace daily grading in a dental school with a competency-based educational model. Presents results from an early administration of the ratings. These results, for 126 students, show excellent face validity and rater consistency and satisfy the school's standard for grade defensibility. (SLD)

Argues that grading and evaluation need not be as pervasive as they seem. Explores ways teachers can step outside grading: nongraded writing assignments, portfolios, and grading contracts. Explores how it is possible to go further and step outside the mentality of evaluation by using certain descriptive and analytic responses to student writing.…

Addresses two issues in the ethics of grading and testing. The first is the charge that the practice of grading students is intrinsically coercive. The second is the national debate about authentic assessment, educational standards, and standardized measures of educational outcomes. The paper suggests there is an acceptable middle ground. (SM)

Educators can develop fair and accurate standards-based grading/reporting by switching to criterion-referenced grading practices; using differentiated criteria (denoting product, process, and progress); clarifying the purpose of each reporting tool; and developing a reporting form that identifies standards, facilitates interpretation, and…

The report card grade has come to serve a variety of purposes: (1) Substantiation for state funding; (2) A public relations opportunity to help generate positive feelings between a school and the community; (3) A vehicle used by the teacher to increase a student's self-esteem; (4) An opportunity to reward a student's likability; and (5) A chance…

This paper reports a study designed to enhance students' ability to implement assessment marking criteria and to develop the role of dialogue in student learning. Pairs or trios of undergraduate biology students were asked to complete a poster on the theme of histology using student/tutor-constructed marking criteria. The study showed: (1)…

The Student Library Aide Program provides real-world work experience to students in a safe learning environment. Students who are interested in working in the library complete an application form similar to a real job application listing their classroom teachers as references, telling why they want to work in the library, and any experience they…

This paper describes a new ICT assessment tool that reduces multihandling of marks, comments and scores specifically where professional judgement is involved. Whereas previous ICT applications in most fields of education have focused on student learning, this tool focuses on the lecturer task of the assessment process. Unlike many ICT based…

Classroom assessments fall into three categories--summative, diagnostic, and formative. Summative assessment occurs at the end of a unit or course of study and is therefore an insufficient tool to maximize student learning. Diagnostic and formative assessments, on the other hand, offer descriptive feedback along the way. In light of these…

Written analyses of cases help the student develop the skills of logical analysis and written communication. However, students often question the reliability of the grades that they receive. In this study, the author used six criteria to evaluate case analysis by two graders who were team teaching a course. Results show that even with…

When Benedict College president Dr. David Swinton noticed the nagging underperformance of his students, he instituted a new grading policy, which has become controversial. But Swinton says the policy could save remedial students, putting them back on track. When Swinton noticed the nagging underperformance of students, and especially the high…