Performance-based (authentic) assessments include genuine, useful, applicable, practice-based, transferable, and demonstrable items. They include skills, knowledge, and attitudes that can be carried beyond the classroom. This paper discusses the importance of learning by doing, explains how to use performance-based assessments, and emphasizes the…

Advocates a stronger comparative emphasis in the study of educational administration and management while acknowledging comparative educational administration's weak knowledge base. Clarifies the potential import of a comparative, cross-cultural perspective embracing five societal/cultural dimensions: individualism versus collectivism, power…

This study evaluated the use of video-delivered simulations of child maltreatment as a mean of probing the personal safety knowledge of young children. It was concluded that such an approach is methodologically difficult and ethically problematic and controversial. Concerns about possible harm to participants and difficulties in obtaining…

Examined preschoolers' understanding that a statement's surface meaning may differ from actual meaning. Found that even 3-year-olds rejected a lie-teller's statement as reflecting his true beliefs and knowledge, indicating basic expression-representation differentiation. Found that most 4- and 5-year-olds and some 3-year-olds knew that a lie may…

Examined 5- and 6-year-olds' ideas about the functioning of common electrical appliances and properties of electric current. Found that children represented current in a static way, thinking it was included in the appliance, and confounded electric current and water flow, believing external electricity was different from internal. They were…

Describes a study that explores secondary school students' conceptions of division by zero. Examines whether students identify expressions involving division by zero as undefined or tend to assign them numerical values. Studies students' justifications and analyzes the effects of age and level of achievement in mathematics on students' responses…

Responds to the article "Students Do Not Overestimate their Life Expectancy: An Alternative Demonstration of Unique Invulnerability" suggesting that students will show optimistic biasing in regard to self-referential information. Discusses a class exercise that focuses on the age of death and is used to see if optimistic biasing occurs.…

Six adult women with mental retardation were trained in sexual abuse prevention, and performance was assessed using four separate measures: pretest and posttests of knowledge, verbal report, role play, and naturalistic probes. All learned the skills but failed to exhibit them to criterion during the probes. (Author/CR)

Two studies examined the impact of mathematical games, some involving parents playing games with children in class, on 5- to 7-year-olds' number knowledge. Results showed that games appeared to be most effective as a way of enhancing children's learning when a sensitive adult was available to support and extend the children's learning as they…

Examines mealtimes of preschoolers' families to determine whether rare words are used in informative ways so that a child could learn their meanings. Each use was coded for whether it was informative or uninformative; each informative exchange was coded for type of strategy used to provide support. Frequency of use was positively correlated with…

Young people's knowledge of rights was examined through open-ended interview questions and detailed content analysis (N=169). Interviews were coded to assess development of knowledge about rights from childhood through adolescence. Results are reported for specific questions. Findings are related to developmental theory, research, and practical…

The effect of a precoronary angioplasty education and counseling program on knowledge and psychological status of patients and on knowledge and quality of life/coping status of their spouses was evaluated. Knowledge, psychological status, and coping status of patients (N=40), their spouses, and controls were assessed. Results show that education…

This paper reviews the reliability of picture identification tools for assessing preschool children in previous studies; provides recommendations for assessing the health knowledge of preschool children; and suggests ways that health knowledge data can be used appropriately in early childhood education programs. (SM)

Scientific technology is an institutional complex of articulated knowledge and skills that depends on social responsibility. This paper addresses a theoretical approach through discussion of rational thought as a guide for rational action, rational thought as a form of rational action, and technology as a form of knowledge. (Author/AEF)

Examines recent research in student learning of technological concepts and processes; argues that it is time to place a great emphasis on in-depth research in this area. Considers three interrelated aspects: existing concepts of technology, technological knowledge, and processes. Examines different technological concepts in an attempt to create a…