Discusses a study of how music education majors and nonmusic education majors evaluated a fifth grade music teacher. Reports that nonmusic majors gave significantly higher ratings than majors for three of four teacher characteristics analyzed. Recommends research to determine variables that affect observation and evaluation processes related to…

An eco-behavioral observation system was developed for use with students with behavior disorders or emotional disturbances. Discussed are the ecosystem definition, the student-instructional setting interface, and the assessment procedure, including evaluation of the quality of academic responding, program evaluation, staff development, and…

Results indicated significantly more stress behaviors in children in developmentally inappropriate classes than in children in appropriate classes. Stress behaviors differed according to activity. Males exhibited slightly more stress behavior than females. (BC)

Discusses a study of the sociomoral atmosphere of three kindergarten classrooms and the sociomoral development of students. Reports that children were observed interacting as they played a board game. Concludes that the higher the level of interpersonal understanding enacted by the teacher, the higher the level enacted by children. (SG)

Principals can become more effective supervisors of early childhood programs by understanding how these programs differ from those for upper elementary grades. There are at least seven critical differences involving classroom environment, teacher-student interactions, curriculum, integrated learning, class scheduling, playful learning, and…

The Ecobehavioral Assessment Systems Software (EBASS) is a computer-assisted student observational system which contains three instruments widely used in special education research. This article describes the background, instruments, supporting technology, validation research, and barriers to the use of computer-assisted observational assessment.…

A 3-year pilot study of alternative assessments for over 500 beginning teachers revealed numerous possibilities, including high-inference classroom observations, semistructured interviews, structured simulation tasks, performance-based assessment center exercises, portfolios, videotaped teaching episodes, and revamped multiple-choice examinations.…

The monograph by D. Rogosa and G. Ghandour represents a body of cohesive and comprehensive research that can be the basis of a new measurement theory combining features of generalizability theory and strong true-score theory. Principles, approaches, arguments, and conclusions are reviewed; and critical comments are offered. (SLD)

Issues raised with the statistical models developed are discussed point by point, restating the emphasis on finite observation time, and reiterating the criticism of traditional psychometric methods. It is noted that the language and technical formulation of psychometrics can be extremely awkward in dealing with biased estimates. (SLD)

Describes a four-step process to involve teachers in self-evaluation that results in performance ownership. When supervisors incorporate teacher self-assessments into classroom observation reports, teachers are more willing to engage in follow-up professional growth activities and perceive supervisors as helpers in the process. (MLH)

The reflective experience of novice and experienced teachers involved in a Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL) practicum is described. Data gathered during the process illustrate the nature of each person's thoughts, judgments, and decisions while watching themselves teach. Ways for practicum supervisors to integrate this…

Explores embodiment, conversation, and anecdote as a way to interpret the teacher's experience of being evaluated. Builds on a phenomenological investigation of the way evaluators "look" at teachers during performance evaluations. Argues that different means of evaluating teachers, one's that do not objectify the teacher, are needed. (DSK)

Describes three practical strategies for implementing peer consultation to improve college instruction using procedures implemented at the Air Force Academy (Colorado). The strategies are (1) small-group instructional diagnosis; (2) interactive student focus groups; and (3) classroom observations. (DB)

Describes a study that examined high school students' ethical reasoning in the context of their participation in a computer simulation of a workplace environment. Includes opportunities for ethical decision-making, classroom observation of participating students, and responses to hypothetical ethical dilemmas. (Author/LRW)

Describes the Praxis III assessment, an observation-based system for assessing the skills of beginning teachers that emphasizes teacher decision-making and the importance of student, school, and curricular context. The principles and processes of the assessment's design and construction are described, and issues in teacher performance-assessment…