*Classroom Observation Techniques: Classroom

Ethnography as a classroom observation method addresses itself to the situations, events, patterns, and contexts that exist in a classroom at a given time. A priori categorical observation and evaluation systems measure what the system is designed to "see, " and may fail to record anomalies and salient everts that affect teaching and learning in this one classroom. Through ar ethnographic method, "clinical descriptions " of a classroom can be obtained and used for feedback. The intelligent, trained observer, In collaboration with the teacher committed to self-evaluation, can put ethnographic materials to immediate use in dealing with specific and unique situations. The clinical use of the ethnographic method, in con-Junction with observers who have knowledge of the roles of supervisor, researcher, and teacher-colleague, seems to be effective in the oblective observation of classrooms, in determining the needS of individual teachers, and in providing feedback for teacher improvement. (Author/JD1 **********************************mt*********************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document