The Department of Mathematics at the University of Food Technology, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, has introduced the Computer Algebra System DERIVE into the Mathematics courses with a view to increasing student motivation and understanding of the material taught as well as the efficiency of the teaching process. With the aim of investigating the effect of…

In an attempt to uncover differences in student behavior as a function of class size, the author observed a small class and a large class for 15 hours each and conducted interviews with eight students who were members of both classes. Two trends emerged from these qualitative data. First, a "diverge-converge" pattern was evident in the small class…

Observing children is a task teachers and caregivers perform to understand the unique characteristics of each child. Observation alone can be helpful, but in combination with record keeping it becomes a valuable aid to understanding child development and can be used as a basis for making decisions about appropriate experiences to foster each…

Examined were preschoolers' naturally occurring behaviors during their attempts to gain, maintain, and regain materials, space, and peers' attention/interaction in the classroom. The major question addressed was, Are there differences between "most" and "least" competent preschoolers in terms of (1) frequency and type of…

This paper reports the results of the validity studies done on the Five P's (Parent/Professional Preschool Performance Profile), an assessment tool for parents and teachers developed by the Variety Preschooler's Workshop (Syosset, New York) to rate young handicapped children functioning between birth and 5 years of age on their observed…

Topics under examination in this article are: what we evaluate and why, humane and scientific evaluation, a plan for classroom visits, and the department as a medley of teaching excellence. (ND)

Two series of classroom observations showed that a high-creative group of student teachers gave more original but not more fluent nor flexible teaching performances than a group of low-creative student teachers. (Author/KM)

Behavioral measures indicated that nonparticipant observation increased the frequency, but not the appropriateness, of teacher-pupil interactions and did not affect the appropriateness of student behaviors. (Author)

The Educational Service Unit's Entry-Year Assistance program is designed to provide the entry-year teacher with technical assistance to insure the first year of teaching is a successful and productive one for the teacher and also for the students. The Assistance Team consists of the beginning teacher, a principal or administrator, a mentor…

Covert checks of observational methodology reveal declines in reliability of observations. This appears to be particularly true when complex codes are used to track social interaction. The present study was undertaken to see whether reliability could be maintained through a combination of technological advancements and the development of improved…

In this paper on the role of the supervisor in education, the supervisor is delineated as one who facilitates the design and implementation of the curriculum and instruction within an organizational setting. Three models of supervision are reviewed. Nominal supervision is described as existing because those charged with supervision are given only…

A framework for thinking about teacher assessment is provided. Good teaching is characterized and target domains for teacher assessment are identified. A number of challenges to existing assessment practices and plans for future assessment practices are identified. New systems of teacher assessment should be designed to triangulate across domains…

Preschool children were rated in a variety of classroom situations to determine if they displayed consistent behaviors within and across settings. Each assessment was based on a 15-minute observation of the child. Results suggest that enduring response patterns can be identified, but only in relation to particular situations. (Author/CS)