The implicit assumption behind personal writing assignments given at the beginning of a writing course is that personal essays eliminate the writing apprehension of having nothing to say. However, college freshmen find it very difficult to write about themselves and their own opinions because this writing involves abstract mental processes and…

The purpose of this research bulletin is to provide educational decision-makers with empirical data for making informed decisions relative to the integration of technology in schools. Ten expanded abstracts of research studies are included here, each with a background/problem statement, list of study goals, description of methodology, conclusion…

This guide, developed in British Columbia, is intended to help tutors teach literacy skills to adults. In nine chapters, it covers the basics of teaching reading and writing to adults, through short case histories, anecdotes, and information about adult learning. The chapters cover the following topics: (1) the joys of tutoring; (2) getting to…

Conference papers outlining strategies for implementing change through inservice education are presented. Three opening papers deal with the general theme of the conference: "Effective Inservice Education" (Gordon Lawrence); "A Panel Discussion on Staff Development" (Margaret L. Trent, Robert W. Evans, and Frederick R.…

A bulletin for teachers and students provides specific information about the design, construction, and scoring of Alberta's Grade 9 French Language Arts Achievement Test that was administered in June 1986. An introductory section describes the purpose, nature, and administration of the achievement testing program in general, the students tested,…

This paper presents the preliminary results of a short-term longitudinal study of the impact of literacy instruction on the lives of 76 adults enrolled in a literacy program at the Center for Literacy in Philadelphia. It begins with an extensive review of literature on literacy, adult literacy and adult literacy assessment. It describes the…

This study examined the relationship between teacher education students' scores on basic skills admission tests and graduating seniors' scores on the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) at Eastern Kentucky University. The 1981-82 basic skills test scores for 262 teacher education students were compared with their NTE scores taken in 1984-85 during…

Since 1971, nearly four million adults have qualified for a high school equivalency credential based on General Educational Development (GED) test results. During Spring 1980 two major studies were undertaken by the GED Testing Service: (1) the U.S. High School Norming Study involving the administration of the GED Tests to a representative sample…

The use of value-added assessment to improve undergraduate education at Rhode Island College is described, with attention to how the process evolved, problems encountered, and future plans. Value-added assessment is used in the development of student educational plans, curriculum evaluation and revision, and assessment of the interaction of work…

The nine essays in this collection examine various issues regarding the utilization of computers in the school curriculum, including the selection of objectives, learning activities and appraisal procedures in curriculum development; providing for individual differences among learners; staff development; behaviorism as an emphasis for programmed…

Questionnaires were given to teachers practicing in Ontario Schools, to student teachers, and to faculty members in a survey of the approach to writing skills instruction in Faculties of Education at nine Ontario universities and at two Ontario teacher education colleges. Several of the 15 unanimous recommendations resulting from an analysis of…

The Brody Reading Method integrates four components to teach reading and written-language skills to elementary and secondary school students with reading difficulties. The program begins with syllabication for decoding, and then reinforces and expands those skills by providing structured application in content area reading, spelling, and…

The research described in this paper examines the relationship between raters and the training raters receive to apply that rating. The primary concern is maintaining scoring consistency within the context of raters' perceptions. If the criteria for holistic and/or analytic scoring can be recognized as communication based, rather than topic based,…

The Functional Academic Skills Tests (FAST) was developed to measure the basic skills of mathematics, reading, and writing in teachers employed by the Houston, Texas, Independent School District. The three content domains were drawn from the Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST). These sets of skills, or proficiencies, were amplified by supporting…

Information on the California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP) is presented. Two major types of projects were funded: (1) demonstration projects to improve school quality and increase the number of students attending college; and (2) college-school cooperative assessment projects to evaluate the academic achievement of high school students in…