The authors describe the significant contributions of Robert Ebel to educational measurement theory and its applications. A biographical sketch details Ebel's roots and professional resume. His influence on classroom assessment views and procedures are explored. Classic publications associated with validity, reliability, and score interpretation…

Reviews the status of classroom assessment, focusing on the review of four key research summaries that describe the dismal state of classroom assessment in the past century. Cites four important developments as reasons for optimism about the future of classroom assessment and details a five-part action plan for achieving the untapped potential of…

Presents a set of program-evaluation criteria teacher-training institutions can use to examine the quality of their current assessment-training programs. Develops a self-study method for teacher-training programs. (SLD)

This review, with profiles of 51 available writing/language usage tests from most major test publishing companies, provides technical information on the tests, the evolution of test characteristics, the tests' role as writing samples, and issues in psychometric quality. Published objective writing tests are changing in important and positive ways.…

This article argues that little is known about assessment in the classroom by teachers. Much of what is known comes from research on testing and not from research on teaching which has been neglected. The implications of neglecting research on routine classroom assessments are discussed and corrective measures are suggested. (JAZ)

This instructional module presents and illustrates rules for designing performance assessments in a step-by-step strategy through: (1) reason for the assessment; (2) type of performance evaluated; (3) exercises to elicit performance; and (4) systematic rating procedures. Guidelines for maximizing reliability, validity, and economy are presented.…

In an attempt to frame an agenda for research on grading practices, the grading practices of 15 high school teachers of mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies were examined. Results underscore the ambiguity in current grading practices and highlight 19 possible reasons for deviations from recommended practices. (SLD)

Issues involved in classroom assessment training for teachers are discussed. Six dimensions of classroom assessment competence were identified via task analysis. A 10-session workshop is described, and relevant evaluation data are reported. (TJH)