Plans for curriculum or pedagogical innovation often lead to little change in practice. Many innovations successful in their early stages fail later, with little post-innovation analysis to understand why. In Scotland, in 2001, the Scottish Executive Education Department initiated the Assessment is for Learning (AifL) programme. Recognising…

Technology-enhanced formative evaluation (TEFE) could enhance student achievement while diminishing the burden of formative evaluation for educators. The current study examined data from 360 randomly selected schools that either used a TEFE program for 1 year to 4 years 11 months, for 5 or more years, or not at all. Analyses of covariance found a…

This article describes an investigation into the outcomes of a school-based initiative to improve the word reading skills of a group of secondary school students (n = 77). The project involved the delivery of an enhanced precision teaching (PT) programme across two cohorts of students by teaching assistants (TAs) in each school who themselves…

Understanding and applying statistical concepts is essential in modern life. However, common statistical misconceptions limit the ability of students to understand statistical concepts. Although simulation-based computer assisted learning (CAL) is promising for use in students learning statistics, substantial improvement is still needed. For…

One method of grading responses of the descriptive type is by using Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy. The basis of this study was the expectation that if students were oriented to SOLO taxonomy, it would provide them an opportunity to understand some of the factors that teachers consider while grading descriptive responses…

Many American students begin their high school mathematics study with the algebra 1-geometry-algebra 2 sequence. After algebra 2, then, students with average or below-average mathematical ability face a dilemma in choosing their next mathematics course. For students to succeed in higher mathematics, understanding the concept of functions is…

Formative assessments are usually informal and can range from oral question-and-answer sessions in class to performance events or quizzes. Stiggens and DuFour (2009) state that teachers and schools should use formative assessments to clarify what students are supposed to be learning, improve the instructional practices of individual teachers, and…

This article discusses how a school librarian can help students improve their critical thinking and strengthen their higher order thinking skills through the inquiry process. First, it will use a Guided Inquiry approach to examine how higher order thinking skills are taught within an inquiry paradigm. Next, it will consider how formative…

Ten years of advocacy targeted at establishing a statewide residential school of mathematics and science offers valuable lessons. These lessons learned from one advocacy journey can be applied to other advocacy efforts and generalized beyond this particular example. Therefore, this article provides more than a description of one advocacy story.…

The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement's January 2007 newsletter, "A Teacher's Guide to Differentiating Instruction," [ED495740] summarized the following four planning stages teachers can use to effectively differentiate instruction: (1) A thorough understanding of content; (2) Use of preassessments and regular formative…

This article discusses how Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP) can be turned into more of a tool for formative assessment. It describes an approach called "APPREND" as a set of APP-based tools for formative assessment. The author provides a glimpse of how APPREND tools can help. (Contains 2 tables.)

Assessment for learning is increasingly part of accepted orthodoxy, with massive government funding in England, is central to national assessment in Wales, and an export to the USA. Black et al.'s Assessment for learning: Putting it into practice (2003), the "bible"' of assessment for learning, is set reading for trainee teachers across…

This article describes ten key assessment practices for advancing student learning that all professors should be familiar with and strategically incorporate in their classrooms and programs. Each practice or concept is explained with examples and guidance for putting it into practice. The ten are: learning outcomes, performance assessments,…

This paper reports on the findings of a study into the use of ePortfolios as personal learning environments (PLE) by a group of students pursuing Master's degrees in Education. The qualitative study explores the potential of the ePortfolio to support learners in engaging in formative peer and tutor feedback as well as in developing a learning…

For the modern business world, business education needs to molt from the cocoon of discipline silos to the integrated business education model to train the next generation of managers. Upper management problems are rarely silo specific. Managers do things right, but leaders do the right things; and executive programs exist to build business…