Developing an Instrument to Measure the Utilization of Principles of Teaching and Learning During Class Sessions*

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument, the Principles of Teaching and Learning Assessment (PTLA) to measure the frequency of use of principles of teaching and learning (Newcomb, McCracken, Warmbrod, & Whittington, 2004) during class sessions. The following research objectives guided the study: operationalize the principles of teaching and learning by developing concrete classroom observation criteria for each principle; establish face and content validity of the PTLA as measured using qualitative data from a panel of experts; establish reliability of the PTLA as measured through analysis of test–retest data; and write foundational premises for developing the PTLA. Grounded in Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development (1961), the study was further guided by a conceptual framework for studying cognitive levels of teaching and learning (Ewing and Whittington, 2007). An instrument for measuring the use of principles of teaching and learning during class sessions is needed for documenting teaching effectiveness. The PTLA will be used to facilitate data collection regarding professor behaviors and their relationship to student variables in teaching environments.