Presents results of a study in which music teachers and students with varying levels of experience and expertise evaluated musical performances. Finds differences in subjects with high levels of expertise are a result of more than experience. Concludes that developing an accurate measure for expertise would aid in obtaining the best role models as…

Traces the history of the infusion of rhythmic movement into preschool and elementary school music programs. Contrasts a progressive approach which taught that movement was essential in teaching music and a conservative view that rhythmic response was genetically determined and could not be developed through training. (DK)

Presents results of study of perception of beat across range of stimulus speeds. Finds that college music majors and graduate students perceived faster rates of presentation as subdivisions of slower beat tempi. Concludes that nonmusic subjects perceived stimulus tones as beats regardless of rate of presentation. Urges further research using…

Presents results of a study of three student teachers in elementary general music. Uses writings and interviews of student teachers to explore their goals and teaching plans. Concludes that student enjoyment is the primary objective of beginning student teachers. Finds this replaced by student achievement of objectives as teacher gains experience.…

Presents results of a study of color-coded notation to teach music reading to instrumental students. Finds no clear evidence that color-coded notation enhances achievement on performing by memory, sight-reading, or note naming. Suggests that some students depended on the color-coding and were unable to read uncolored notation well. (DK)

The newly formed and still evolving National Executive Development Center of the American Association of School Administrators is described. Its mission is to provide a process for guiding professional development of school executives. Considerations regarding the use of assessment data for formative and summative evaluation are discussed. (SLD)

A diagnostic assessment system--based on performance specifications of the American Association of School Administrators' National Executive Development Center concerning instructional leadership for superintendents and assistants--was field tested with over 250 executives and evaluated using 89 executives. Data support continued use of the 42…

The extent to which findings from research on teacher effectiveness are represented on the National Teacher Examination Test of Professional Knowledge was studied through Delphi investigations. Phase I identified and rated seven research reviews. Phase II--with 12 panelists--examined the relationship of test items to research findings from 1…

The relationship between a year-long student teaching experience and student teachers' schemata for classrooms was studied by comparing nine female student teachers (experts) with eight female prospective student teachers (novices) taking education courses. Student teachers had enhanced understanding of classroom events, reflecting different…

How administrators viewed faculty evaluation was studied through a survey of 199 deans and vice presidents (representing a 55.7 percent response rate to a mailed questionnaire) from two-year colleges. Posttenure evaluation existed in about 70 percent of responding institutions. There was ambivalence about the overall effectiveness of the…

A triad of conceptual, human relations, and technical domains is proposed as a basis for effective performance evaluation systems in education. Systems incorporating the relevant issues in this triad address a fundamental rule of performance evaluation: if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well. (SLD)

The newly established Center for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation (CREATE) is described. CREATE--1 of 25 centers being funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement--will be a focal point in evaluating the performance of teachers, administrators, and programs in public schools and private schools. (SLD)

Teacher assessments should reduce the discrepancy between what is and what should be true for effective teaching and professional standards. Performance Assessment Centers are an attractive way to improve teacher assessment. In such centers, candidates participate in simulated job tasks tapping abilities related to the assessment's focus. (SLD)

Performance testing is discussed as a method for teacher evaluation. Although new to teaching, performance assessment has a long history in assessment of other occupations, and much can be learned from this experience. Performance assessments, measuring knowledge and abilities in use, can help sharpen the definition of teacher competence. (SLD)

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is developing a certification process, rather than a test, to confer distinction on experienced teachers who meet demanding standards. The role of performance assessment in this voluntary certification is discussed, and the research goals of the NBPTS are described. (SLD)