In an identification of the varieties of student behavior that enter faculty judgments of academic performance, 311 faculty members in 15 colleges and universities described how a good student and a poor student each differed from an ordinary student in one of their classes. Content analysis of these descriptions identified about 100 separate…

Considers the question: During classroom observation, what phenomena should be focused on, and what will be the focal points of the "snapshots"? Uses observations from a mathematics classroom to illustrate the need to modify traditional focal points to include student primary activity(s), teacher and student "misbehaviors,"…

This article introduces secondary and college economics teachers to the technique known as interaction analysis. The Flanders system of analyzing language in the classroom and techniques for applying interaction analysis in economics courses are discussed. For journal availability see SO 504 499. (Author/RM)

Techniques for categorizing the social and cognitive aspects of children's play on an observational instrument are outlined in this article. Correlates between social cognitive aspects of play and other measures of educational attainment are mentioned. Implications for teacher educators are discussed. (Author/DF)

The Student Record of Behavior (StRoBe) is an instrument that provides information about students' behaviors in the classroom. Researchers had preservice teachers use the StRoBe during their field experiences. The students believed it helped them focus on specific school behaviors, clarify behavioral patterns, and integrate what they observed with…

The Classroom Interaction Analysis Index (CIAI) was developed to categorize the actions of teachers and students as they interact in classroom situations. The CIAI rating system is easy to learn and easy to use. Experience has shown that the average teacher or supervisor can use it effectively after three or four one-hour sessions. The purpose of…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on teachers' use of systematic observation records of social behavior to aid in assessing students' special needs and in evaluating the effects of specific programs. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of…

This observation manual is meant to be used by English as a second language teacher-trainees observing classroom teachers at a college or university and by the teachers being observed. In the introductory material some of the literature on teaching effectiveness and coding procedures is discussed. It is noted that most educators who have been…

Two experiments tested the general question of whether a more "natural" artificial light (Vita-Lite) would have any different effects on classroom behavior and the ability to study than would a traditional (cool-white) light source. Fifty-nine undergraduates took part in the first experiment that utilized an 8-week counterbalanced design.…

Naturalistic ethnographic research methods useful for the study of the dynamics of effective college teaching are discussed based on the findings of an ethnographic study. Naturalistic research methods were used in the study to understand better the task and social dimensions of a college classroom. Lessons were studied in the classroom as they…

Within the evaluation of a curriculum program for student teachers, the curriculum as an influencing factor in the effects of the teaching-learning process was investigated. Qualitative and quantitative research models were used. The Look and Listen I (LLI) program was the subject of the study. It is an individualized program to instruct student…

The Classroom Interaction Analysis Index (CIAI) is an instrument developed to categorize the actions of teachers and students as they interact in classroom situations. In the study described, a class of 30 social studies student teachers were divided into teams of five each. Each team taught the same preplanned lesson twice--by illustrated lecture…

This study investigated a way of teaching Israeli student-teachers about the nature of classroom activities in the cognitive domain by training them to observe actual lessons. Observation was limited to the activity of pupils in science classrooms rather than to that of the science teachers. (HM)

Results of a study of pupil control techniques employed by elementary physical educators are reported. Three classifications of control techniques emerged. A Physical Education Pupil Control Inventory (PEPCI) was designed based on findings. Also discussed are rationale and methods of utilizing PEPCI in inservice and preservice training of physical…

Two different methods of collecting information about student activity in the laboratory were compared using a series of videotape recordings. One method was based entirely on the systematic observation of student behavior (interaction analysis); the second method involved students describing their laboratory activities while watching excerpts…