The author discusses the role that ethnography can play in understanding interaction processes in physical education classrooms, with the aim being improvement of instructional techniques. The characteristics of ethnography are described as: (1) dealing solely with action-watching and analyzing the things people say and do; (2) dealing with action…

A student journal is an effective means of individualizing instruction for students involved in practicum learning experiences. Certain precise objectives, procedures, and guidelines for the actual observation and recording in the journal should be developed with the student prior to the initiation of the practicum. To maximize the amount of…

The author examines the various forms by which a child's progress through elementary-secondary education may be documented and focuses on the process of integrating observations into a valid sequence of documentation. Noted as forms of documentation are: (1) individual daily activity and academic records; (2) collections of the child's work; (3)…

Reviewed are such techniques as classroom observation, using criteria for success in educational prescriptions, and plotting daily performance for evaluating the severely disturbed child. Included are such materials as a sample diagnostic test schedule, a paper on observation procedures, and graphs for recording behavior. (SBH)

The effects of an observer's presence on maternal interactive behavior were examined through observation of mother-child pairs under informed and uninformed conditions. Results indicate mothers played with their children more, were more positive in their verbal behavior, and structured their children's activities more during the informed than…

Cultural anthropology's methods of "emic" and "etic" analysis have potential applications in the theory, research, and practice of educational administration. In "emic" analysis the native informant is made the ultimate judge of the researcher's descriptions and analyses. In "etic" analysis, however, the…

Eighty-one fourth grade students were administered tests, tasks, and observations to investigate the relationship between IQ, rates of learning, scores on standardized achievement tests, and results of classroom observation. There was a substantial relationship between IQ, standardized tests, and rates of learning, but not classroom observation.…

Ways in which a playground may be used an an area for young children's education are described. Techniques for encouraging children to observe, explore, and investigate are pointed out, and the implications for future learning implicit in these skills are noted. (JD)

The findings of six studies based on in-home observations of children's television viewing behavior as recorded by mothers, fathers, or other adults caring for the child are summarized and compared. The object of this research method is to determine child interest in the programs, the variability of interest within programs, the amount of series…

This 2-part report investigates the role of mass media in the lives of pre-school Scandinavian children. The first part presents a portrait of one child, giving a personal picture of the child's family life and her relationships to various forms of media. Part II continues the discussion of the role of media in children's lives, based on the…

This study investigates communication and play behaviors of a deaf preschooler and his younger brother. Observations of four free play sessions suggests that to some extent the normal pattern of sibling interaction was altered. Videotape analysis of the play sessions revealed that a substantial number of the hearing child's communications were not…

This observation guide lists 270 separate items, in checklist format, to be used for informal evaluation of classroom teachers by their peers. Items for observation are given for mechanics of teaching, scholarship, organization, classroom relationships, and miscellaneous teaching functions, as well as for preparation, topic choice, quality of…

Methods for videotaping a second grade classroom effectively and unobtrusively are described. Guidelines for equipment and personnel needs, equipment placement, and recording procedures are included. Details of the difficulties such methods present are also described. (SAS)