High school principals cannot effectively lead their schools from principal's office, nor do they need more formal structure or unctuous human relations approach. Experienced principals have learned to get out of their offices and spend more of school day where 9ction is. Schools must not compromise their vitality and humanity to fit some…

The attempt to reduce teaching to discrete, observable behaviors is impractical. Checklists fail to capture the intangible qualities (sense of humor, enthusiasm, compassion) differentiating an effective teacher from an ineffective one. For skilled supervisors, the ultimate observation instrument is a blank sheet of paper accompanied by informed…

This article describes: (a) a model of behavioral events likely to occur during team sport coaching practice; (b) three interrelated systematic observation instruments, microcomputer-based, used to record behaviors. Collected data can be analyzed and processed to assess coaching effectiveness. Model and instruments have been tested on basketball…

A description is given of how an art teacher increased childrens' observational skills by teaching them to focus on the subtle visual details of natural objects. A brief list of helpful books is provided. (JD)

An exploratory study of adult learning resulting from locally initiated community group programs illustrates approaches to qualitative and, more particularly, naturalistic evaluation. The use of a proxy list and the blending of independently derived abstract and concrete initial category labels proved particularly useful in the categorization…

Reorganization of data from a 1986 study of home care client placement for the elderly (N=18) allowed for user-specific reports to a variety of interested groups in the affected community. The techniques used to adapt and present the data are outlined. A short bibliography is appended. (TJH)

Investigated the quality of spontaneous play with sticks, nuts, and bolts in 18 children aged 44 months and the effects of this on a subsequent problem whose solution required 2 sticks to be bolted together. Children who discovered the elongation principle during play were better problem solvers than those who had not. (RJC)

Explains a method of measuring music students' understanding and retention in order to justify the school music program. Rates students on three scales, including performance of tonal pattern, rote song, and rhythm pattern. Recommends the use of similar objective classroom evaluation to demonstrate learning success. (LS)

Takes a critical look at the idea of "news routines." Examines a politically oppositional news room to determine which elements of production make its news "oppositional." Argues that economic and organizational factors help determine news content more than do routines. (RAE)

This article reviews the qualitative structured interview technique; provides a synopsis of a case study of the exercise adoption process for 7 women (aged 65-74) where this technique was utilized; and discusses the technique in terms of its implications and potential for future leisure research. (IAH)

To help administrators with their classroom observation responsibilities, this article presents teacher performance guidelines. Teachers should actively involve students in a planned lesson, circulate among them, present instruction clearly, provide opportunities to practice new material and oral communication skills, create a positive learning…

Compares three competence assessment strategies that differ in the forms and amounts of evidence required and process of obtaining it: (1) performance samples; (2) workplace observations; and (3) evidence of prior achievements. Concludes that performance evidence may need to be supplemented with prior observations or achievement records and that…

An education professor describes bewildered responses to basic, if annoying, questions he asks regarding education's role and purpose. There is probably no single thing that everyone has to know. Education is a lifetime, seamless experience, connecting individual episodes into an ever-expanding web of meaning, insight, and understanding. Teachers…

Reviews problems and issues in early childhood evaluation, and discusses advantages and disadvantages associated with using classroom observations. The "Bronson Social and Task Skill Profile" is described, and its usefulness is discussed by reviewing the way it has been used in several research studies. (HTH)

Outcomes of the program evaluation of "The BreakAway Company," a career-readiness program for at-risk adolescents, are described. Some inconsistencies of observation and measurement in an intervention with 38 adolescents are noted. What and when to observe and measure are essential in evaluating complex interventions for at-risk…