Problems associated with peer observation and evaluation of teaching are examined, and practical ways to compensate for and overcome them in order to achieve the benefits of this form of evaluation are discussed. (Author/MSE)

Observation of 740 classes examined the experiences that students in vocational, nonvocational, and business classes are having to determine if change is desirable. Findings revealed a typical business class environment, emphasis on technical skills, and limited opportunity for interaction or focus on work-related skills. (JOW)

Four British teachers were observed for one year teaching classes with and without an enterprise approach. They did not teach in a predominantly student-centered way in enterprise lessons, though they were less directive. Tasks in enterprise classes had minimal intellectual challenge and did not emphasize open-ended inquiry. (SK)

Effective teacher evaluation strategies have several key elements, including involving key stakeholders in the decision-making process, establishing goals mutually, creating a time frame, emphasizing formative evaluation, revamping classroom observation practices, using rating scales sparingly, seeking training for evaluators, and identifying…

Presents a checklist of effective teaching practices to provide feedback on direct, explicit, active, and whole-class instruction. The set of statements is neither a prescription nor a micromanagement system but a springboard for personal reflection and collegial discussion. The instrument is divided into five sections: introducing the lesson,…

Describes how the author, an elementary school principal, has changed his observational style and shifted his focus when visiting classrooms and evaluating teachers, as a result of his growing ethnographic understanding of classrooms as cultures and communities. (SR)

To maintain a stimulating learning environment, a variety of teaching strategies must be used, and teachers must be constantly aware of what is going on in the classroom. Ways to become a skilled observer include using a skill goal improvement schedule, monitoring the physical environment, and learning to read nonverbal signs. (JOW)

Responses from 452 (78.8%) accredited baccalaureate nursing schools showed that 358 used classroom observations to evaluate faculty. Among 89 faculty surveyed there was great disparity in the weight given to observation compared to other methods. The purpose, weight, and number of evaluative observations need more clarification. (SK)

Studied whether gender differences resulted in different teaching styles. Three male and three female teachers were observed during a lesson. Focus was on giving instructions and dealing with problems, and participants were rated according to whether gender influenced their teaching style. (Author/VWL)

Describes the educational benefits of walkthroughs (unscheduled classroom visits) by principals. Provides walkthrough procedures and observation questions. (PKP)

Analysis of the verbal interactions in five videoconferenced classes and classroom observations indicated the level of class interaction was not significantly different in traditional versus distance classes. Instructors influenced the amount and type of student talk in both. Remote-site students had higher levels of noncognitive talk. (SK)

The effectiveness of educational activities on changing the handwashing habits of preschool children was evaluated using parental surveys and direct observations. Baseline handwashing behaviors were observed and recorded, and parents completed a pre-intervention survey. After interventions were administered, post-intervention data was collected on…

This article describes the tension between standards-based assessment on a macro level and authentic assessment on a micro level. Content standards arguably supply systematic criteria for quantitative measures to report trends and establish policy. Qualitative measures, such as rubrics, student profiles, and observational records, fill in the gaps…

This article presents case studies of two long-time English language teachers: a California English as a second language instructor originally from Brazil, and a Chilean English as a foreign language teacher who worked for many years in the United States before returning home. Based on interview and classroom observation data, this research…

This article examines how eight advanced ESL learners attend to and utilize the nonverbal information found in a video text. Using verbal report methodology in which test-takers verbalized aloud their thought processes while taking a video listening test, the results suggested that the test-takers varied in how they attended to and utilized the…