In this article, the author attempts to develop a definition of "interactivity" that meets two sometimes incompatible goals: the definition should be in accord with the best intuitions on how the term should be used, and it should usefully differentiate interactivity from related but incompatible concepts with which it is often confused. The…

The concept of engagement across the learning sciences and in museums draws from research on visitor interests, motivations, and behaviors. Such involvement by museum visitors reveals institutional and field expectations about museum efficacy and demonstrated impact. However, engagement is a concept with different uses and interpretations across…

In the context of debates on place, space, and identity in a period of globalisation, this article asks whether collaborative arts projects are a means to identity formation for participants. This is of interest, not least, because such projects are outside consumption, the latter more often discussed in work on identity in sociology. Situated…

Analyzes levels of audience involvement in participation theater: (1) instruction, (2) direct contact, (3) independent creative, (4) contribution of ideas, (5) representative involvement, (6) decision making, (7) story control, and (8) spontaneous involvement. Contends that participation plays help a child develop into a responsive adult audience…

Notes a resurgence of interest and practice in participational theater. Explains that playwrights, directors, and theater educators have begun to ask questions and seek information about available scripts and guidelines for creating new works. Includes edited remarks by six practitioners who talked about their experiences with participation…

The strengths and weaknesses of home television are examined from a developmental point of view, and recommendations for action by educators and parents are made. Strengths considered are educational growth, aesthetic development, and entertainment. Weaknesses discussed include television violence and aggressive behavior, passivity by viewer, and…

Asserts that, although government leaders stress the role of television in "comforting" the people, an analysis of key challenges to the centralized authority suggests that such comfort may come at the expense of local and regional participation. (PRA)

Focuses on the rhetorical values, benefits to debating programs, and administrative issues of intercollegiate, audience-style debating. (PRA)

Argues that the popular view of the superiority of literacy over television is incorrect. Reviews literature contradicting the popular view, analyzes demands television makes on viewer/auditor, emphasizes that children's purposes for viewing influence the amount of mental effort they invest, and discusses implications for school and home use of…

Describes several strategies designed to increase audience participation in role play and simulation activities in the foreign language classroom, including audience feedback, role switching, voting, instant replay, cultural discussion, audience direction, press conference, and class soap opera. These strategies make the role play more productive…

The object of empirical musical sociology is to study the social interaction and interdependence of musicians or composers, their music, and the public. Trends in historical and contemporary musical sociology and the constituents of the musical process are examined. (AM)

Presents interview with Sergei P. Kapitza, scholar in physics and a popularizer of science through television, who discusses his television program noting objectives, topics, and format of program, participation of viewers, influences of space age, and family viewing. A description of a participation science program "What? Where? When?"…

The author states that a common factor in comparing one extension method to another is the interaction involving a subject concept and a member of the target audience. He outlines approaches that extension personnel may use to compare effectiveness of meetings, publications, mass media, etc., in reading their audience. (MF)

Discusses problems that arise in evaluating social participatory art. Contends that concentrating solely on the social policy function during project development can have the effect of drying out the artistic content of the work. Proposes that evaluation processes are needed, but they must evolve from the structures of the projects and the needs…

Richard Lanigan's phenomenology of human communication is applicable to the development of a model for critiquing oral interpretation performance. This phenomenological model takes conscious experience of the relationship of a person and the lived-world as its data base, and assumes a phenomenology of performance which creates text in the triadic…