A survey of 120 law schools investigated grading practices for different course types, use of different kinds of grading curves to standardize assessment at several instructional levels, and recent experience with institutional changes in grading systems. (MSE)

Computer studies courses should incorporate as many computer concepts and programming language experiences as possible. A gradual increase in problem difficulty will help the student to understand various computer concepts, and the programming language's syntax and structure. A sidebar provides two examples of how to establish a learning…

Literature related to the multiple true-false (MTF) item format is reviewed. Each answer cluster of a MTF item may have several true items and the correctness of each is judged independently. MTF tests appear efficient and reliable, although they are a bit harder than multiple choice items for examinees. (SLD)

A "Signability Index" is presented for sign language interpretation of children's books. The index is based on such variables as reading rate, sentence length, quantity of text used to express thoughts, word imagery, and complexity and concreteness of passages. Suggested books for classroom reading are listed, categorized by six levels of…

Presents a study of task liking and intrinsic motivation using self-esteem, task label, and feedback analysis of variance. Reports that, for subjects with high self-esteem, feedback had strong impact on liking of a difficult task. Concludes that, for subjects with low self-esteem, feedback had strong impact on liking easy tasks. (DK)

Training judges to generate item ratings in standard setting once the reference group has been defined is discussed. It is proposed that sensitivity to the factors that determine difficulty can be improved through training. Three criteria for determining when training is sufficient are offered. (SLD)

This study explored the relationship between traditional item difficulty and cognitive complexity as measured by response time. Rural students (n=43) responded to computer-based tests of the Individualized Study by Technology General Mathematics Course developed by Alaska's Department of Education. Results indicated that mean response times were…

An ethnographic approach with added quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis was used to study the extent and nature of technology-based materials in 15 elementary school mathematics classrooms. The blend of methods provided rich and varied information and gave insights either type of analysis could not provide alone. (SLD)

This study examined the academic performance of gifted students (especially female and ethnic minority students) moving from elementary to secondary education. Although no differences were found for female students, ethnic minority students took fewer advanced level classes and had lower grade point averages than did other gifted students. (DB)

Effects of the following variables on performance of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) procedures for the partial credit model (PCM) were studied: (1) stopping rule for terminating CAT; (2) item pool size; and (3) distribution of item difficulties. Implications of findings for CAT systems based on the PCM are discussed. (SLD)

Describes a tabloid newspaper in British Columbia for adults who are learning to read English. The newspaper features information with an adult focus, including human interest stories and articles on adjusting to Canadian life and is graded at three levels of language difficulty to provide varying reading entry points. (LB)

A functional analysis involving antecedent events was conducted with four students identified as having behavior problems. Off-task behavior was measured while task difficulty and level of adult attention was manipulated during analog sessions. Results revealed higher rates of off-task behavior during difficult tasks and improved behavior when…

Three students (ages 12-16) with moderate mental retardation and severe behavior disorders were taught to read sight words related to the daily newspaper weather report by a method that interspersed known words with new words. Students mastered the 10 sight words and showed some improvement in reading the weather report. (DB)

Visual and auditory processing of complex sentences was examined among 8- through 11-year-olds. Findings suggested a U-shaped learning pattern for on-line processing of restrictive relative clauses. Off-line accuracy scores showed different patterns for good and poor comprehenders. Incorrect local attachment strategy use was related to sentence…

This investigation considers the instructional effects of color as an over-arching context variable when learning from computer displays. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the posttest retrieval effects of color as a local, extra-item non-verbal lesson context variable for constructed-response versus multiple-choice posttest…