This study examined the interaction of acoustic-phonetic information with higher-level linguistic contextual information during the real-time speech perception process in child, young adult, and older adult listeners. Findings indicated that target word predictability influenced the timing and nature of the real-time recognition process, including…

A study at the University of Yaounde (Cameroon) compared male and female student evaluations (n=1,064) of teaching on a range of variables. Variables which maximally distinguished males from females were fairness in grading, overall judgment of the course, organization of individual class sessions, and overall course organization. (Author/MSE)

It is proposed that market-driven changes in higher education are deleterious to the college teaching profession and ultimately a threat to academic freedom; faculty must feel free to correct and criticize students and be controversial in their ideas, without fearing negative teaching evaluations. (MSE)

Twenty special educators who taught pupils with mild and moderate disabilities implemented curriculum-based measurement and were periodically assessed for accuracy and given corrective feedback. Analyses indicated that systematic observation and feedback were associated with improvement in accuracy, especially on more difficult aspects of…

Comparison of data on 8,748 students with learning disabilities (LD) and 78,757 nondisabled peers who took the American College Testing (ACT) examinations found ACT performance less predictable for the LD group. For both groups, math credits best predicted ACT Math scores, and high school grade point average best predicted ACT English and Science…

It is argued that establishing assessment criteria in teacher evaluation is not synonymous with demonstrating content validity. Validity and standards-related issues in developing teacher performance assessment criteria are discussed, with reference to the Praxis Series of professional assessments for beginning teachers. (SLD)

Ways and means of evaluating a teaching program, as distinct from making assessments or measurements of student achievement, are suggested. Achieving a structured, integrated, but holistic evaluation of the performance of teachers and classes throughout the year should be a goal. Emphasis is on teacher evaluation in Australia. (SLD)

Explores issues involved in using assessments to define standards and encourage efforts to meet them and compares the European examination system with the American testing system. Also considered are issues of the definition of learning domains in ways that do not encourage narrowly focused training on specific assessment items. (SLD)

Seventy-two secondary students (with learning disabilities, remedial, or normally achieving) enrolled in science and social studies classes read textbook passages, completed study guides, and took tests using a computer or pencil and paper. On factual questions, analysis favored the computer overall, whereas no differences were found on…

The context and development of the assessment center exercises used in the field of secondary history and social studies under Connecticut's Teacher Assessment Center Program are reviewed. Preliminary findings suggest success in designing an assessment that combines the knowledge from formal instruction with the skills gained through classroom…

Compares graduate students as teachers with faculty as teachers by analyzing the course evaluations of 41 faculty and 68 teaching assistants (TAs) at Queens College of the City University of New York over an 8-year period. Reports that students rated TAs higher for introductory psychology four out of the seven semesters. (NL)

The relationship between the conversational competence of mildly retarded children (two speakers) and acceptance by regular education students was studied. Ninety-four students in grades four through six responded more positively to videotapes of mildly retarded children who managed conversations well and less favorably to those with…

Student satisfaction with 8 methods of collecting college student evaluations of instruction was studied by asking students in 32 classes (ranging from 20 to 110 students) to rate the methods. Students prefer interview methods at midterm followed by instructor reaction to traditional approaches such as standardized end-of-course rating forms. (SLD)

How self-serving bias affects evaluations of college courses was tested for 691 students by comparing a model predicting that evaluations reflect actual grades with a model predicting that evaluations reflect confirmation or disconfirmation of expectations. Results support course evaluation validity by indicating a minimal effect of self-serving…

Reviews the prevalence, natural history, causes, impact on performance, diagnosis, and treatment of iron deficiency in adolescent and young adult athletes. All athletes should be screened and treated. The best diagnosis involves determining serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. Treatment requires therapeutic doses of oral ferrous iron for several…