The potential uses of ethnography and aesthetic criticism as sources for developing a qualitative approach to evaluating classrooms are delineated. Such work involves three interrelated processes--description, interpretation, and appraisal--which are discussed and exemplified. When describing a classroom, the evaluator vividly renders it,…

Teachers may be evaluated (1) according to their skills and attitudes, (2) by observing their behavior, (3) observing the students' behavior and achievement, and (4) by a combination of means. Some systems, summative and formative, now enjoying rather wide popularity are described in this document. IOTA (Instrument for Observation of Teaching…

An analysis is presented of classroom lessons where the behavior of the instructor and also of the small group under instruction is examined. (JD)

Measures of teacher behavior are related to student achievement in fifth grade reading and mathematics instruction. It was found that those measures of teacher behavior which were generalizable (that is, more highly reliable) were found to be significantly related to student achievement. (JKS)

Reviews studies gathering data about what happens inside science classrooms, studies providing information about the nature of interaction in science lessons, studies which have examined factors influencing the nature of interaction, and studies which have looked at the impact of different patterns of interaction on science outcomes. (Author/SL)

This study focused on the kinds of cognitive behaviors preschool and kindergarten children engage in while playing in a solitary, parallel, associative or cooperative manner. The effects of socio-economic status, developmental level, and the use of specific materials on social and cognitive levels of play are discussed. (BD)

Concurrent use of two direct observation instruments (momentary time sample of task engagement and event recording of discrete student responses) were evaluated in six middle school resource rooms using either of two reading programs. Findings tended to be program specific with differences lost or diluted when data were combined across programs.…

The supervisor's visit to the classroom includes more than observation. An important dynamic in the teacher's acceptance of the supervisor is permission for interpersonal access. Includes an analysis of interviews with 12 teachers on the subject. (MD)

Presents anecdotes from nursery school daily records which illustrate significant learning experience through cooperative work and play. Suggests that children process and learn information by playing with that information. (NH)

Computer-assisted observer training of 12 college students using interactive videotapes produced observational repertoires that accurately reflected a wide range of targeted events. Maintenance (thinning feedback) and nonmaintenance (no feedback) training generated equivalent degrees of observational accuracy. Data indicated the standard practice…

Contrasts effects of developmental characteristics of peer interaction partners on three preadolescent students with severe developmental disabilities observed while playing with (1) children of similar age and comparable diagnosis, (2) nondisabled children of similar age, and (3) chronologically younger but developmentally similar nondisabled…

The study presents a methodology for collecting detailed naturalistic data on preschool teachers' instructions and children's compliance as well as a descriptive analysis of variables related to instruction rate and compliance probability. The study also illustrates the effects of context on teacher and child behavior. (Author/DB)

Analysis of teachers' questions, part of the ORACLE (Observation Research and Classroom Learning Evaluation) project research, is examined in detail. Scarth and Hammersley argue that the rules ORACLE uses for identifying different types of questions involve levels of ambiguity and inference that threaten reliability and validity of the study's…

Classroom variables associated with academic learning time (ALT)--instructional time, on-task behavior, and student success rate--are positively related to student achievement. Guidelines and forms are provided for teachers and supervisors to gather objective and usable information on these ALT components through direct classroom observation…

One approach to rebuilding public confidence in schools is to establish a visiting program for parents and patrons. This article describes a one-day "accreditation visit" program in Colorado that asks parents to observe classes, assess school climate, and make suggestions for school improvement. (MLH)