This article scrutinizes the solutions of real-world problems by pupils and the evaluations of these by their teachers in a semi-rural school in Zimbabwe. Generally, real-world problems are solved as if these are standard problems expecting a solution and a correct answer. In most cases, the solutions of the pupils are considered correct by the…

Describes the experience of an evaluation network being put into practice in Spain to encourage educational change. Outlines the most relevant conditions needed for educational change and develops the description of a school evaluation network that includes all the previously described conditions. (SLD)

Describes patterns of achievement in mathematics and science for elementary and secondary students who participated in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Discusses the low achievement of Cyprus students and the responses of the public and the educational system. (SLD)

Compared results from the Second Information Technology in Education Study, which assessed information and communication technology (ICT) for West-European countries (five for primary education and six for lower secondary education), focusing on The Netherlands. (SLD)

Studied an assessment procedure for alternative teacher licensing in the Netherlands from the perspective of the teacher candidates. Responses of 33 teacher candidates and interviews with 7 candidates showed that, in general, candidates were satisfied with the clarity of the six-step assessment procedure, and that they generally thought the…

Evaluated the Linking All Types of Teachers to International Cross-Cultural Education (LATTICE) program, a 5-year program designed to enhance the international intercultural understandings of local public school teachers. Questionnaire responses of 66 LATTICE participants demonstrate the effectiveness of LATTICE in exposing its participants to…

Presents highlights of 8 evaluation studies conducted over 25 months in a California school district enrolling about 30,000 students. Examines the eight studies in terms of chronology and outcomes, evaluation functions, superintendent involvement, and the function of various departments in the district's Instructional Services Division. Focuses on…

Studied how teachers perceived the importance of the set of interventions of the teacher support program for the implementation of adaptive teaching. Nine schools and 129 teachers participated in the intervention; 36 of these participated in the evaluation. Data from questionnaires and interviews show that teachers attach considerable importance…

Discusses some of the problems inherent in publishing school performance indicators (SPIs) and makes some recommendations for their publication and use. Considers the characteristics of public SPIs and the ways in which they are disseminated, and draws on the experience of the Netherlands in this area to suggest appropriate ways of publishing…

This special issue focuses on findings from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) from Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It consists of five contributions covering a variety of topics and research methodologies. Some articles are primarily descriptive; others focus on relational analyses. (SLD)

Makes the case that both internal and external evaluation are needed in the assessment of educational systems. Suggests some conditions have to be met to establish a constructive dialogue between internal and external evaluation. (SLD)

Integrates research on educational indicators with that of school profiles to frame relevant issues that states, school districts, and schools should address as they develop or update school profiles. Current practice in designing report cards appears to have resulted in a proliferation of indicators with little demonstrated statistical…

Discusses the kinds of abilities and knowledge that are measured in investigative performance assessment tasks in science. Questions the emphasis placed on the assessment of problem-solving and higher-order skills and calls for a rationale for performance assessment in the dimension of "scientific argumentation." (SLD)

Describes the development of the performance assessment tasks of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. The challenge was to produce tasks that would measure the achievement of curricular objectives while being sufficiently reliable to allow comparisons between countries and of groups within countries. (SLD)

Highlights the findings of the performance assessment component of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), discussing implications for future assessments and issues for further analysis and research. The TIMSS has demonstrated the feasibility of large scale performance assessments, but what the numbers really mean remains to…