A York University (Ontario) project in which four French second-language teachers paired with peers for observation of their classroom techniques and interactions is described. It is concluded that this form of extensive peer- and self-evaluation is a powerful tool for understanding the complexity of language teaching and learning. (Contains 14…

To enhance teaching effectiveness, university professors need multidimensional feedback on classroom transactions. The Teaching Feedback Model is a process that combines systematic observation of student and teacher behaviors with analysis of student learning. The paper describes the model, demonstrating its current use in college-level physical…

Summarizes some of the major findings from the first year of the federally funded National Study of Student Learning. Discusses the implications of those findings for higher education policy and practice.(Author)

Provides personal narratives of four teachers regarding their work to create more democratic classrooms in urban settings. Explores the issues of authority and democracy in day-to-day teaching in the areas of (1) authority, democracy, and relationships; (2) formations; (3) authority and democracy in the writing workshop; and (4) reformations. (NH)

Presents the following 10-step strategy for fostering meaningful staff-parent relationships: convey professionalism, make parent relationships a priority, be positive about each child, be personable and friendly, be proactive in interactions with parents, show passion about teaching, communicate problems tactfully, inform parents about daily…

A survey of the use of technology and multimedia presentations by 410 teachers of students with visual impairments found they were more at ease with general technology than with technology designed for students with visual impairments. When adapting traditional materials, teachers tended to use simpler, less technological solutions. (Contains 6…

As part of an undergraduate course, 147 teacher candidates graded components of an imaginary eighth grader's language-arts portfolio over a 10-week period and reported a final grade. These grades and manipulated variables for student background and academic progress were used to generate a model in which student background, growth, and actual…

Examines teacher practices and how they contribute to or deter home-school connections for diverse families. Discusses practices that deter connections; exclusionary curriculum; noninclusive participation structures; the deficit view of diverse students; practices that facilitate connections; student knowledge, background, and cultural contexts;…

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which school ethnic affiliation (Jewish vs. Arab) and site-based management affected the absence of teachers and school administrators. Research Design: Background individual and organization-level data on the population of elementary and middle-school teachers (52, 056 teachers at 2,…

Within the context of the Project on Learning (a 3-year research project under the direction of Professor Graham Nuthall), each of the authors of this paper participated in a series of classroom-based studies focussing on the experience of Years 5 and 6 students. The use of the extensive methodology, comprising audio- and video-recorded…

As early as 1923, Jean Piaget challenged teachers to reevaluate their goals for students and to promote critical thinking rather than conformity. Piaget described two important educational goals. The first "principal goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have…

This study examined whether culture mediated teachers' reported classroom behaviors. Teachers were asked to complete a questionnaire with items that depicted a traditional classroom behavior or activity performed under specific cultural orientations. Reports of culture-based classroom behaviors were ascertained as a function of teacher cultural…

We focused on potential effects of directly controlling teacher behaviors (DCTB), such as giving frequent directives, interfering with children's preferred pace of learning, and not allowing critical and independent opinions. We hypothesized that children's perceptions of their teachers as directly controlling would arouse anger and anxiety in…

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of teacher experience on student progress and performance quality in an introductory applied lesson. Nine experienced teachers and 15 pre-service teachers taught an adult beginner to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on a wind instrument. The lessons were videotaped for subsequent analysis of teaching…

This study investigated students' and teachers' views of preferred teaching in terms of the teacher-student interpersonal relationship. Interpersonal teacher behaviour was studied by means of the Model for Interpersonal Teacher Behaviour. Data was gathered from 176 students and 39 teachers from two United World Colleges, one in Norway and one in…