This study aims to better understand the construction of the meaning of physics concepts in mechanics during a teaching sequence at the upper secondary school level. In the teaching sessions, students were introduced to the concepts of interaction and force. During this teaching sequence the models called "interactions" and "laws of…

The observation of 18 hours of videotapes of 44 eighth grade boys and girls working in same-sex and mixed-pair groups with MYRESNAK (A Danish variation of LOGO) mathematics software indicated gender-specific differences in cooperation and work style. These differences are explained in terms of gender-specific socialization practices and are…

Conducted state-wide in Pennsylvania, this study expands on several research studies of the quality of day care reported by Phillips (1987). Observations and evaluations were made of 149 randomly selected day care centers and family day care homes. The day care and family day care versions of the Child Development Program Evaluation Licensing…

This study identifies classroom conditions that affect student empowerment and examines the relationship between student empowerment and high computer access (HCA). The study involved observation in two fourth grade classrooms--one week in an ACOT classroom (with high computer access), and one week in a non-ACOT classroom (without high computer…

The status, roles, and functions of those involved in the supervision of teachers were studied, with attention to observation, evaluation, counseling, and inservice programs. The evolution of the supervisory role from 1850 to the present was traced, and probable future changes were predicted. The components of supervision as reported in the…

Information is provided regarding major learning styles and other factors important to student learning. Several typically asked questions are presented regarding different learning styles (visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic, and multisensory learning), associated considerations, determining individuals' learning styles, and appropriate…

The premise of this presentation is that clinical experiences are superior to many traditional kinds of field placements. Four types of clinical experiences are described: participant observation in special education classrooms; a team planned cooperative teaching experience; participation in the activities of a college reading clinic; and…

Two naturalistic studies examined how children attempt to exert dominance over their peers, which tactics are most frequently used, and which appeals are most successful. The first study identified 3 categories of dominance behavior by a 6-week observation of playground interactions of 20 4- and 5-year-old children. The second study, conducted at…

Teachers' ratings are often used as early as the preschool period to provide an overall picture of children's behavioral adjustment and social competence. The goals of this study are to (1) show the relations among general, outcome-oriented observational categories of preschoolers' social competence and (2) specify those discrete emotions and…

Examined were antecedents and behavioral correlates of parental perceptions of efficacy, using data from a national survey of 3,000 parents and a study of 65 mother-infant dyads. Survey data were used to determine what factors are predictive of parental perceptions of efficacy. Dyadic data were used primarily to examine the relation between…

A study examined (1) whether students whose teachers possess a higher level of professional development exhibit greater time-on-task in reading than students whose teachers exhibit a lower level of professional development, and (2) if any specific aspects of teachers' professional development were related to a significantly greater amount of…

Intended for use with "Accreditation Criteria and Procedures of the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs," this guidebook is designed to help early childhood educators in their progress through the process of program accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. Provided are (1) instructions and materials for…

Specially designed for teenagers, this experience-based training program of five units provides information about working with young children and is the learner's counterpart of a separate set of materials designed for leaders working with the teens. Units of instruction concern working in a team, observing the world of the child, facilitating the…

The relevance of research to the role of teachers in classroom observation and appraisal is discussed. Focus is on: (1) the validity of classroom research literature and the credibility of classroom researchers, centering on content, methodology, and audience; (2) the role of research in teacher professionalism and empowerment; and (3) teacher…

The study observed and compared the pragmatic skills of two mildly retarded and two nonhandicapped kindergarten children, focusing on their use of language in everyday conversational situations. A checklist developed by the investigator was used to record observations based on six categories of speech acts: commenting, answering, affirming,…