Uses a case-study approach to examine the role of belief as a catalytic quality in the artistic making and the thinking processes used by children. Describes the processes encountered by children when presented with artistic tasks. Discusses the relationship between belief and the three other main dimensions of artistic thinking and making: social…

Explores the relationship between a teacher educator's explicit modeling of reflection on practice and (n=9) student teachers' developing use of reflection on practice. (Author/MKR)

Describes activities for helping children develop skills in quantitative observations. (PR)

As principals make their daily classroom visits, they should focus on three broad areas: the general classroom climate, the quality of teacher-student interaction, and teachers' currency regarding curriculum strategies. Highly visible principals also recognize their building's physical condition and become better acquainted with students and…

This study used interviews and participant-observation to examine the concept of "brown-nosing" (using compliments and other positive statements to curry favor) in organizational settings in the United States. It identifies various types of brown-nosing, as well as the motives and consequences of such behavior. (30 references) (MDM)

The history of user evaluation of reference service is traced and related to other methods of reference evaluation, including librarian self-reports of success, behavioral guidelines, and observation. The advantages and disadvantages of user-report methodology are considered. (Author/AEF)

The authors describe peer coaching as the process of teachers helping each other using techniques based on models of clinical supervision. Presents positive outcomes of peer coaching. Suggests that the professional interaction should involve a preconference, an observation, and a postconference. (five references and an annotated bibliography) (PR)

This article presents the Seizure Observation Form for documenting objective information concerning seizure activity in the classroom and presents guidelines for seizure observation, consisting of questions to direct educators' observations of a seizure. Types of seizures and necessary safety procedures are discussed. (JDD)

Teacher-researchers at Douglas County (Colorado) School District are expanding their understanding of teaching and learning by viewing their classrooms as "thoughtful communities," where they, too, are learners. Various research projects are described, along with sample insights into professional development. (six references) (MLH)

Describes the development of a project designed to build a positive role for peer observation in a language program, reports the reactions of the participants, and gives guidelines for the use of peer observation in a language program. (seven references) (GLR)

By examining the structures and activities common to six case studies of clinical teacher supervision, this article identifies five conditions that facilitate changes in teacher thinking and behavior: development of a supportive, collegial relationship; teacher control over supervision products; continuity over time; focused, descriptive records…

An efficient search procedure is presented for determining the optimal number of observations of facets in a design that maximize generalizability when resource constraints are imposed. The procedure is illustrated for three-facet and four-facet designs, with extensions for other configurations. (Author/SLD)

Presents a nontraditional, naturalistic study of writing apprehension in the form of a dialogue between the subject of the case study and her teacher. Describes how the subject overcame a writing block (involving an undergraduate honors thesis) by writing about the block. Presents a sense of an individual writer and the social construction of her…

Described two types of naturalistic research from different theoretical traditions: new paradigm research and ecological psychology. Applications are suggested for research in college student development and for professional practice in college student affairs. Includes examples of naturalistic research and discusses criteria for scientific…

Teacher-observation forms should focus on observable teacher-preparation behaviors and teaching techniques appropriate to a particular lesson. The form presented in this article includes both considerations and is most useful for middle and secondary levels. The form helps focus a preobservation conference on factors establishing pertinent teacher…