Described is an innovative social studies testing procedure which motivates study and learning by developing student ability for independent thinking. The procedure is entitled The Document-based Essay Question (DBQ). Information on developing DBQs is presented and examples are provided. (DB)

Presented are reasons why teachers should continuously assess their teaching methods and testing procedures. The importance of stating course objectives in measurable terms is stressed. (DB)

Discussed are techniques for evaluating students in political science in a sound and humanistic manner. Guidelines are presented to help identify and clarify cognitive skills as well as to reduce political and governmental concepts to measurable terms. Suggestions are made for planning tests that assess the attainment of various learning…

Summarizes one approach to constructing economics courses and outlines testing procedures which are congruent with this approach. Concrete examples of test items are presented. (Author)

Maintains that students must study ethnicity to attain a total understanding of American society. The author analyzes and evaluates multiethnic components of a social studies program and recommends comprehensive testing to determine the success of each component. Examples of testing techniques are presented. (Author/DB)

Presents classroom materials developed by the Population Reference Bureau for use by teachers and students in exploring population trends, urban development, immigration patterns, demographic shifts, and relationship of human beings to their environments. Included are graphs, charts, tables, and maps. (Author/DB)

Presents arguments in favor of setting behavioral objectives for the social studies. A discussion of criticisms that have been made of the behavioral objective approach to curriculum development is presented. The author concludes that it is impossible to determine the success of a program without specific behavioral objectives. (Author/DB)

Recommends that a few behavioral objectives be included for skill development in many teacher education courses, but that behavioral objectives and competency-based teacher education be generally de-emphasized in favor of developing competent teachers. A framework for accomplishing educational improvement is presented. (Author/DB)

Discusses methods of evaluation in the social studies which test development of student skills in participation, inquiry, analysis, and reflection. Examples of evaluation strategies and suggestions on grading are presented. (Author/DB)

Presents two examples of report cards designed to support the implementation of social studies programs. The authors claim that both cards illustrate an effort to underscore skills, attitudes, and other teaching-learning conditions in addition to information. (Author/DB)

Presents activities, techniques, and processes developed by classroom teachers to evaluate student learning. The authors included those evaluative techniques which assisted student growth along informational, cognitive, social and affective dimensions. (Author/DB)

Discusses sex stereotypes and presents innovative ideas for dealing with them in a social studies course. Techniques suggested include collecting sexist cartoons and articles for display on the class bulletin board, photographing sexist signs on community business, and discussing sexist artifacts such as U.S. commemorative postage stamps and…

Describes a simple simulation for teaching secondary students about nuclear power as a source of energy by having them role play various interest groups. Game rules, including division of class members into four interest groups, are described. The author suggests eight references that would be useful for the simulation. (Author/DB)

Describes an innovative geographic location activity in which students trace and correct a mimeographed map of the United States two times. The first time, the state names are given. The second time, the student must fill in and correctly spell the name of each state. (Author/DB)

Presents a rationale for teaching about the Nazi era in social studies courses. Major objectives are to eliminate prejudice against Jews by rendering it intellectually indefensible and to help students deal with blind obedience to authority. (Author/DB)