Presents the procedures, results, and conclusions of a study designed to determine whether constant patterns of teaching of various kinds over an extended period could affect concept formation, problem solving, and total achievement of slow learners in a high school biology course. (LC)

Research supported by the U.S. Office of Education.

Examines observational skills for use in working with children and suggests ways students or practicing teachers can develop those skills. Specific techniques discussed are the running record or specimen description, checklists employing operational definitions, time sampling, event sampling or anecdotal records, and the informal interview. (RH)

Reports on observations in 34 class periods of six elementary teachers teaching spelling. Notes that much of the time was not devoted to actual instruction. Reviews the methods of spelling instruction that research has found effective and recommends ways that administrators can help improve spelling instruction, including classroom observation.…

Presents an annotated bibliography of ERIC resources on the following topics: teacher communication; research on classroom interaction; using systematic observations to improve teaching; different systems of classroom observations; and research on classroom observation techniques. (PD)

A secondary analysis was conducted to test the validity of five behaviors from five classroom observation systems: approves/praises; asks questions; criticizes/disapproves; gives directions; and presents facts or judgments. Scores for each were intercorrelated and arranged in a multitrait-multimethod matrix. Evidence was found of construct…

Behavioral assessment methods for measuring the social development of exceptional children include teacher nominations, rankings, rating scales, and checklists. Use of direct observation procedures in analogue (simulated) and naturalistic settings can pinpoint antecedents and consequences of social behavior and provide goals for intervention. (CL)

Gives suggestions for a methodology for observing teachers of English as a second language in less than ideal teaching conditions. A type of checklist along with predetermined questions are used where the observer merely makes a mark rather than furiously trying to write down notes. The method is comprehensive and economical. (PJM)

The paper describes some observational procedures that can be employed by the special teacher or learning assistant to determine the levels of either appropriate social behavior or deviant responding in the classroom. (Author/SBH)

The functioning of a new instrument for measuring behaviors in physical education classes is explained. (JD)

Evaluation of students' dance performance provides feedback for developing skills and self-awareness. (JD)

Presents a computer program developed at the University of Cincinnati to transpose and compute sets of raw data from the Flanders' Interaction Analysis, used in investigating classroom teaching behavior. The program is included and its use with student teachers is discussed. (RAO)

A young child with cerebral palsy was observed concurrently using four methods of data collection--a participating master teacher, a participating intern teacher, a nonparticipant observer, and videotape recordings--which were then compared. The findings indicated that a highly trained and experienced participant observer can furnish more than…

Those evaluating teacher behavior were highly influenced by verbal remarks that led them to expect either excellent or poor performance. (Editor)