Recording and evaluating instrument and method for teacher evaluation

A method of collecting and displaying teacher evaluation data comprising the steps of:

• prompting an observer at successive predetermined time intervals to observe respective consecutive then-occurring predetermined classroom activities and to generate discrete successive information signals indicative of consecutive said predetermined classroom activities observed by said observer in the classroom;
• recording said information in graphic form providing a permanent record of consecutive transitional events representing transitions in the successive observed predetermined classroom activities, each of said trasitional events being represented by a line on a graph extending from a point of said graph having an ordinate corresponding to a just previously received discrete information signal to a point of said graph having an ordinate corresponding to a presently received discrete information signal the abscissa of each successive such point being incremented by one predetermined interval representing one of said predetermined time intervals;
• counting a number of respective consecutive observed predetermined activities;
• determining a percentage of observed activities corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined categories;
• and
• displaying the results of said counting step and said determining step.

An apparatus for calculating, analyzing, and displaying teacher evaluation data, comprising:

• first means for automatically repetitively prompting human observation of predetermined categories of teacher classroom activities at consecutive predetermined time intervals during a period of evaluation;
• second means connected to said first means for manually generating a discrete information signal at the end of each said predetermined time interval, each signal corresponding to and representing a respective observed predetermined category of teacher classroom activities;
• third means connected to said second means for consecutively graphically recording said discrete information signals in a sequence at respective intervals of predetermined uniform length, each interval corresponding to one of said predetermined time intervals;
• fourth means connected to said second means for counting the number of said discrete information signals generated during said evaluation interval representing each predetermined category of activity;
• fifth means connected to said second and fourth means for calculating percentages of observed categories of activities with respect to the total number of activities observed at the end of each time interval during said evaluation interval;
• and
• sixth means connected to said fourth and fifth means for displaying said counted number and said calculated percentages.

An apparatus for recording and evaluating teacher-student interaction in a classroom during a period of instruction, a relatively untrained observer being present in said classroom for observing said interaction and operating said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• an interval selector preset by said observer;
• an interval timer connected to said interval selector for generating an actuation signal after an interval of time, said interval of time having a duration determined by said preset interval selector;
• an interval indicator lamp connected to said interval timer and responsive to said actuation signal for prompting said observer to observe said teacher-student interaction;
• a keyboard having respective keys corresponding to respective observable teacher-student interaction activities, said interval indicator further prompting said observer to actuate a respective key of said keyboard in response to an observation of an activity;
• a computer connected to said keyboard and responsive to an output signal thereof indicative of an observed activity for counting a number of observed activities, for categorizing each observed activity according to a plurality of predetermined categories and determining the percentage of observed activities in each of said categories, and for resetting said interval timer to begin measuring said interval of time, said interval time further being connected to said computer therefor;
• a control circuit connected to said computer;
• a recording mechanism connected to said control circuit;
• a paper advance mechanism connected to said control circuit;
• said control circuit being responsive to an output signal of said computer indicative of an observed activity for coordinated control of said recording mechanism and said paper advance mechanism to draw a line on a recording medium indicative of a transition from a just previously observed activity to a presently observed activity;
• and
• at least one numeric display connected to said computer for displaying said number of observed activities and said percentage of observed activities in each of said categories.