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)

The drama hike is a walk in the woods, in which children observe nature and engage in an imaginative search for a "lost civilization" or "strange creatures." Instructions cover scouting out the area beforehand, preparing the children, leading the hike, followup activities, suggestions for creative sites, ideas for language and…

Naturalistically observed 52 preschoolers' responses to their crying peers. Found that variations in preschoolers' ways of responding were related to the children's temperament, friendship status, and interactive style with peers. (Author/BC)

Describes the role of observational research in the assessment of children's peer-related social competence and the conceptual frameworks that serve as a foundation for observational assessment of children's social goals. Describes technological advances that allow more descriptive, precise, and complex behavioral codes. Provides an example of an…

Presents a philosophical grounding for valuation in educational administration. It is based on a naturalistic perspective that shows how scientific methods and relevant concepts and explanations can be used in situations requiring moral deliberation. Examples illustrate how administrators can use tentative explanations and consequence analysis to…

Discusses a game and related activities to help students develop observation and inference skills. (MKR)

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)

A multicultural adaptation of Hanson's original group process observation guidelines is presented. Several multicultural sensitizer items are added to each original process observation category. A system for processing and discussing these expanded observations within a fishbowl design is detailed. Experimentation with these sensitizers in a…

In this ethnographic study, Mark Granovetter's theory of the strength of weak ties was used to investigate the flow of human services information (HIS) among nurses and the elderly at neighborhood clinics. Analysis of observations and interviews revealed that nurses were bridging weak ties and helped link seniors with local services. (Contains 81…

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)

This observational study suggests that many toddler friendships are occurring all the time, waiting to be discovered and fostered by astute teachers. Asserts that those working in toddler programs need to be sensitive to the potential for friendships in 2-year-olds and nurture these first fragile bonds. (EV)

Describes the block play of two preschoolers as they recreate their visit to their state capital. Presents the teacher's observations of the skills displayed in their play and the letter to parents explaining what children learn from block play. (KB)

A grandfather and educator of the gifted recounts his experiences systematically observing and recording the development of his granddaughter from birth through age 5. He notes the special advantages grandparents have in such observation and offers advice to parents, grandparents and talented youth on ways to develop talents and interests…

Two experiments investigated the derived transfer of functions through equivalence relations established using a stimulus pairing observation procedure. In Experiment 1, participants were trained on a simple discrimination (A1+/A2-) and then a stimulus pairing observation procedure was used to establish 4 stimulus pairings (A1-B1, A2-B2, B1-C1,…