This article discusses the increased emphasis on providing early intervention services within natural environments and how to maximize natural learning opportunities by using everyday activities that children experience and embedding intervention in daily routines. Guidelines for deciding the frequency of services, changing services, and the level…

Discusses level 3 evaluation from Donald Kirkpatrick's Four Level Evaluation Model (level: 1-reaction; 2-learning; 3-behavior; 4-results) to measure training program performance. Highlights include an evaluation planning matrix; increasing evaluation data accuracy and reliability; data collection method selection; designing data collection…

Discusses the importance of observation in science education, how to foster students' observation skills in the classroom, and how to facilitate what they observe when learning. Includes a list of components of good scientific observing. (KHR)

Studied the effects of videocase construction on pre-service teachers' observations of teaching with 31 students in the technology-supported condition and 31 in traditional classroom observation conditions. Results show that technology-supported students outperformed comparisons on video tests of ability to identify, interpret, and analyze…

To determine how Dutch teachers framed observation, this study analyzed teachers' stories about teaching diverse learners, examining what they said about observing students. Results indicated that observation was embedded in the action of teaching, and teachers could not separate themselves from what they observed. An alternative view of…

Co-Ob coaching combines the proven effectiveness of cooperative and observational learning. It involves an intensive observation effort in 6 different classroom settings by a team of from 2 to 25 administrators, supervisors, and coaches seeking to develop or extend their coaching skills. (MLF)

Reviews the research that suggests that qualitative approaches to the evaluation of library user education programs may sometimes be more appropriate than quantitative measures. The differences between quantitative and qualitative evaluation are discussed, and the instances in which one approach may be preferred to the other are identified. (17…

Interviews with 36 members of 4 rural community betterment groups found that citizens typically learn through direct experience, vicarious experience, and guided experience. They also change their feelings and ways of thinking about groups and develop new awareness of themselves and others. (Author/SK)

Investigates the amount of time infant school children spend waiting for teacher attention while performing seatwork. Discusses implications of the findings for classroom practice. Suggests that the most advantageous method for securing teacher attention may be found in those classes that use a queue system rather than a hands-up signal. (KO)

Identified taxonomy of humor that was developed during seven weeks of participant observation in a small, family-owned business. The various types of humor were found to help minimize differences in status and alleviate workplace tension. Humor also had implications for socialization of employees and appeared to create bonds among employees. (TE)

Discussion of educational software evaluation highlights an evaluation based on program instrumentation of a medical school simulation program. Evaluation strategies are discussed; evaluation techniques, including interviews, questionnaires, and observation are described; and implications of the results of the program instrumentation for the…

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)

Recorded performance of children (N=311) between ages of 6 and 14 by summative ratings of test-session behavior. Results indicated test-session observations were critical as cross-checks of the validity of test scores obtained during test sessions, but provided considerably less insight into children's adaptation and achievement outside the…

Definitions of and approaches to naturalistic evaluation are discussed. The qualitative aspects of the discipline are reviewed; and use of naturalistic evaluation in descriptions, illustrations, explications, hypothesis testing, and assessment of public spending are defined. A new paradigm for naturalistic evaluation is proposed. (TJH)

Students in a teacher training course used a logbook during classroom observation as a tool for guiding the observation, analysis, and synthesis of what was noted. The log accommodates notes on objectives, processes, support materials, group dynamics, space and movement, and other classroom factors. (MSE)