A study determined whether videotaping preservice teachers' instruction lessons in early literacy methods courses was valuable to them in assessing their teaching and how best to develop a video portfolio for assessment purposes. Subjects, 10 kindergarten through fourth grade preservice teachers enrolled in three consecutive methods courses,…

Described is the background and methodology of this study including the sample and the instrument development. Copies of the instruments are included. The success of the program as measured by these instruments is reported. (CW)

This document provides a 67-item observational instrument to be used for the evaluation and description of science teaching in the elementary school. No data regarding the instrument are provided. Sections of the instrument include: (1) use of intellectual development stages; (2) performance objectives; (3) lesson planning skills; (4) instruction…

Seven checklists were developed to provide precise feedback to students on their teaching performance during secondary science methods microteaching sessions. These checklists measure performance related to: (1) lesson plans; (2) communications skills; (3) generic teaching; (4) concept demonstration; (5) manipulative skills; (6)…

This study assessed the reactions of 39 teacher candidates toward the following components of a general methods course, "Micro-Teaching: Practice in Teaching Techniques": (1) instruction in methods; (2) pre-teaching conferences; (3) laboratory teaching; and (4) post-teaching conferences. The subjects, who were enrolled in two sections of the…

The Social Science Observation Record (SSOR) is an interaction analysis-systematic observation scheme enabling users to engage in interaction analysis as a descriptive record. Pilot studies suggest that the knowledge of the system enables pre-service social studies teachers (using microteaching simulation) to modify their own behavior in…

Presented is a 30-item observational instrument to be used for the evaluation and description of preservice or inservice science teaching in the elementary school. Sections of the instrument include (1) use of intellectual development stages, (2) performance objectives, (3) lesson planning skills, (4) instruction sequencing, (5) question asking…

Microteaching, or peer teaching, is an activity that requires science methods students to plan, teach, and evaluate a particular lesson. The peer teaching activity, although obviously similar to teaching a lesson in a traditional classroom, enables the methods students to teach to a small group of their peers, thus easily receiving constructive…

Open discussion and a Likert-type scale (Characteristics of Effective Teaching) were used with 38 graduate students enrolled in an advanced methods class in secondary school subjects, to determine their perceptions of the characteristics of effective teaching and whether teaching is an art or a science. A survey completed at the beginning of the…

This study investigated the impact of administrators' constructive comments to preservice teachers about their micro-teaching demonstration. The project used a research model that concentrated on cognitive changes rather than changes in behavior and that used images of growth rather than measurable changes. It attempted to facilitate reflection,…

Even though videotape technology has been found to be an effective tool for evaluation of student teachers, this technology is often not used to assess performance in preservice clinical experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of video technology as a tool for reflection in teacher education. In the study, student teachers…

A project was undertaken at the University of Texas at Austin to underwrite expenses incurred with the planning and implementation of a curriculum for developing teaching skills among students interested in teaching science and engineering. In this project report information is provided on the following: course goals and activities, course…