Describes the California Assessment Program's (CAP) group performance assessment task. Provides a sample task field test in world history, including written and culminating exercises. Suggests that such assessment exercises are popular with students and provide the teacher with an amalgam of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. (DK)

Discusses use of portfolios for student assessment. Suggests that such an ongoing collection of the student's best work will aid the teacher and the student in judging the quality of learning. Examines the purpose and design of the portfolio, storage containers, and evaluation. Emphasizes the need for communication and peer review in learning. (DK)

Argues that multiple-choice tests, if correctly constructed, are still effective assessment tools. Focuses on constructing multiple-choice questions that address course content objectives but also require higher order thinking. Lists and defines concepts and curriculum objectives. Includes standard and database multiple-choice questions that offer…

Discusses the Maryland Test of Citizenship Skills and the controversy surrounding its adoption. Presents results of a study of teachers' attitudes toward the test and remediation efforts. Concludes that competency-based testing discourages higher level thinking but encourages recall. Suggests that performance on the test does not reflect students'…

Discusses the changes in geography and social science education in the former Soviet Union that followed the sweeping political changes there. Explains how the curriculum and teacher education changed under glasnost and perestroika. Examines prospects for the future. Includes maps and charts detailing some of the many changes in the former USSR.…

Provides teaching activities based on a recruiting poster directed at African-American men during the U.S. Civil War. Includes a brief history of the experience of African-American Union troops. Discusses document analysis, creative writing activities, oral reports, and activities for further research. Focuses on problems of racial discrimination…

Suggests a classroom strategy to help students learn to analyze and discuss significant issues from history and current policy debates. Describes scored discussions in which small groups of students receive points for participation. Provides an example of a discussion on gold mining. Includes an agenda. Explores uses of scored discussions and…

Describes a competitive learning activity for social studies based on the idea of basketball play-offs. Suggests that the exercise allows students to review and discuss U.S. history while engaging in higher cognitive thinking skills. Describes a format in which students analyze the historical background of each president. Includes seeding charts.…

Discusses society in the future. Expresses concern over social problems and misuse by the media of terms relating to diversity and multiculturalism. Lists themes for effective instruction in social studies as integration of topics and meaningful, challenging, active, and value-based learning. Urges that self-esteem, mutual respect, and cooperative…

Provides a sampling of citations in the ERIC database on children's rights. Includes human rights education, United Nations' conventions, state takeovers of local school districts, and federal law as it affects student rights. Covers child abuse, corporal punishment, child welfare, and child advocacy. (DK)

Argues that childrens' rights should be taught in the social studies curriculum. Suggests that study of the components of the U.N. convention on childrens' rights (provision, protection, and participation) is integral to achieving major citizenship goals. Includes global education, interdependence, culture, change, scarcity, and conflict as…

Suggests that the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child challenges teachers to address rights representing a consensus on minimum standards. Compares the U.S. view of food, shelter, health care, and rehabilitation as legislative entitlements, rather than as the rights they are seen as in other nations. Discusses cultural diversity,…

Traces development of idea of special rights for children. Describes United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child as change in view of children's rights as part of human rights. Includes innovations such as participation rights, rehabilitation for children suffering exploitation or cruelty, and articles on adoption and administration of…

Discusses the history of human rights and international law deriving from major philosophical trends. Suggests the use of Supreme Court cases dealing with student rights to illustrate to students the philosophical basis of rights relating to their own experience. Emphasizes that rights involve a relationship between individuals and the government…

Discusses projects used by some teachers, texts, and other instructional materials for teaching the responsibility and participatory aspects of citizenship. Suggests that texts currently in use neglect teaching the protection of rights. Argues that corporations do more educating than schools through their commercials. Questions how some teachers…