Describes and discusses how systematic formative evaluation can be applied to different types of human performance technology (HPT) interventions. Three components of evaluation are explained, six stages of formative evaluation are described, five types of formative evaluation are explained, and strategies for micro analysis of formative data on…

Discussion of the growth of distance education programs focuses on program evaluation. Describes the American Evaluation Association http://www.eval.org, the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation (ERIC/AE) http://ericae.net; lists steps for planning formative evaluation; and considers the appropriate uses of new technology. (LRW)

Illustrates how the scholarship of teaching could be assessed, recognized, and rewarded, addressing both formative and summative evaluations. Addresses the question of who should determine the standards and criteria by which to review and critique the scholarship of teaching and whether studies in the scholarship of teaching should be required to…

Two studies supported the efficacy of a structured method for providing students with feedback on exams and means of using the teaching potential of exams, collectively referred to as formative summative assessment (FSA). In the first study, students responded positively to the method. In the second study, students enrolled in 2 sections of…

A formative assessment can provide a snapshot of what a student knows and is able to do. It can include written tests, performance tasks, formal or informal questioning, or teacher observations embedded in a unit of study. The information gathered from formative assessments is then interpreted and used to further student learning. Such assessment…

As part of Nebraska's assessment and accountability system, districts' local assessment systems are evaluated for their psychometric quality. This article provides an overview of a two-stage evaluation strategy, discusses how it was applied in Nebraska, and presents results from the first three years of the evaluation process. Benefits of the…

This article looks at stages one and two of a three-stage process for success. Over the last decade, schools and districts have become increasingly sophisticated in their collection, storage, and analysis of data. And with the rise of NCLB, the focus of data analysis has been largely trained on ways to help schools achieve Adequate Yearly…

This article concerns the use of assessment for learning (formative assessment) and assessment of learning (summative assessment), and how one can affect the other in either positive or negative ways. It makes a case for greater use of teachers' judgements in summative assessment, the reasons for this being found in the research that is reviewed…

This paper wishes to clarify the definitions of the central terms relating to assessment. It argues that all assessment begins with summative assessment (which is a judgement) and that formative assessment is in fact summative assessment plus feedback which is used by the learner.

This study explores the contribution that can be made by self and peer assessment to effective teaching and learning. The purpose of this research was to introduce an intervention to a group of students, many of whom had non-traditional academic backgrounds, with the intention that it might enhance their academic skills and lead to more effective…

Across the country, educators in schools that have not met their targets for improved student learning are considering next steps. As a first step, a school improvement plan that is grounded in data and based on a comprehensive needs assessment can provide a framework for effecting change for a school's programming, student support systems, and…

The Adolescent Literacy Collaboratory is one model for sharing literacy leadership responsibility at the secondary school level. With the help of computer technology (PCs), it brings teachers and literacy leaders from multiple departments and multiple schools together to learn from and with one another in overlapping professional learning…

This study produced by the Eurydice network gives a detailed picture of the context and organisation of national tests in 30 European countries and the use made of test results in informing education policy and practice and in guiding the school career of pupils. It presents the diverse choices made by European countries regarding the objectives,…

This article presents a model that instructional leaders can use to engage in a change process that fosters effective instructional change in school districts and individual school buildings, specifically middle schools and alternative middle schools. The authors describe four dimensions of leadership and explain how each dimension informs…

Biology in Context ("bik") is a project that aims to improve biology teaching in lower secondary schools in Germany. Based on a theoretical framework derived from the National Educational Standards, four competence areas should be fostered in biology education: subject knowledge; inquiry acquisition; subject-related communication; and…