The paper reviews three main approaches for specifying behavior in a psychological assessment (interview, observation, and client self-report) and examines the place of behavioral assessment in the total field of assessment. (CL)

Discusses several observation-based methods of student assessment that are recommended in the "Primary Language Record," a book developed by schools in the Inner London Educational Authority. (MM)

Discusses informal and formal observational assessment for young children. Describes the uses, methods, and applications of informal observational assessments for children aged birth to five years. Includes tips to facilitate teacher observations. (RJC)

This paper recommends the replacement of student evaluation methods based on the behaviorist model with holistic assessment based on principles of seeing individuals as active learners who interact with their physical and social environment. Four approaches are recommended: (1) gathering information from a variety of sources and contexts; (2) a…

This paper offers guidelines in the consideration of an open or closed classroom-observation system. Factors in the definition of an observation approach include target, timing, focus, topic of observation, and data-collection system. Because there are advantages and drawbacks to any classroom-observation system, the following factors should be…

Imagine conducting a classroom observation and having a professional-looking observation report completed before you ever leave the room. This CD is the busy school administrator's best friend, bringing the tasks of completing classroom observation reports and performance evaluation reports into the 21st century. This innovative CD-ROM helps make…

The article defines and describes coping and stress, their relationship to learning, and how they are assessed for educational planning for preschool handicapped children. The Coping Inventory, an observation assessment instrument, is used to show how the teaching and learning of coping behavior can be part of each child's educational plan.…

The purpose of the Delaware Performance Appraisal System is to assess instructional performance of teachers so that the quality of instruction can be improved, professional development activities can be prescribed, and a foundation for administrative decisions can be developed. The procedures outlined in this publication are the minimum standards…

An overview of the function of observation systems within the context of program evaluation is illustrated by summarizing observation systems used in evaluations of primary education, compensatory education, and Follow Through programs. (Author/CM)

This instructional module presents and illustrates rules for designing performance assessments in a step-by-step strategy through: (1) reason for the assessment; (2) type of performance evaluated; (3) exercises to elicit performance; and (4) systematic rating procedures. Guidelines for maximizing reliability, validity, and economy are presented.…

Head Start classroom observations are an integral part of providing high-quality services to families and children while supporting staff. All too often, however, this opportunity to enhance services and solve problems is viewed either as an evaluation of staff or as a "rubber stamp" to meet funding requirements. Depending on the…

In this paper, academic efficiency is operationally defined and a methodology for measuring it at the school level is described. Academic efficiency is defined as the extent to which a school utilizes its time for the academic development of all its students. The measure of academic efficiency must include three elements: time, students, and…

This manual on teacher evaluation is limited to selected aspects of instruction that are evident in classrooms, including teaching behaviors, pupil perceptions about instruction, classroom transactions involving pupils and teachers, and evidence of short- and long-term planning. The focus is upon those aspects of instruction that research has…

Developed to provide an alternative system for identifying emotional disturbance in students, the manual begins by briefly reviewing problems in current identification approaches. An emotionally disturbed person is defined in the paper as someone who exhibits either too much or too little of a socially significant behavior. An approach is then…

This handbook on teacher evaluation provides the means for conducting positive, nonjudgmental assessment of teacher performance. The first section presents a sequence for planning and implementing an evaluation of teaching. The second section discusses concepts that are used as a basis for developing procedures to evaluate teaching for…