Group awareness tools (GATs) are used to enhance awareness among students in online collaborative settings. GATs display awareness information of group processes, so students have a shared understanding of the collaboration. They also encourage students to share their opinions regarding their group processes, which externalizes unspoken awareness…

Knowledge sharing practices in post-secondary settings create pathways for better academic achievements, improved communication skills and interpersonal skills, as well as facilitate an appreciation for understanding different perspectives. Crowdsourcing has long been a part of education with students teaching one another through open-idea…

This phenomenological study explored the perspectives of 6 children who participated in a social skills group. The children were identified as having significant social skills delays and 4 of the children had a disorder on the autism spectrum. Seven themes emerged: mutual acceptance and support, improved interpersonal skills, positive feelings…

Early social deprivation in highly social mammals interferes with their varying needs for security and stimulation. Toleration of social stimulation was studied in 18 adult ex-laboratory chimpanzees, who had been deprived for 16 to 27 years, during their 1st year after resocialization into 1 of 3 social groups. For this, a model of social…

Difficulties in social skills are generally considered defining characteristics of High-Functioning Autism (HFA). These difficulties interfere with the educational experiences and quality of life of individuals with HFA, and interventions must be highly individualized to be effective. I explore ways technologies may play a role in assisting…

Evaluated the effectiveness of a training group for health care workers (N=5) engaged in learning interpersonal skills. Two research confederates observed and recorded group process. While participants reported a positive experience to the trainer, a negative experience was reported among group members, suggesting the possibility of subject bias.…

The author concludes that what is presently needed is for thoughtful, interested persons to continue an examined approach to the understanding and use of the intensive group experience. It has powerful implications for education, psychiatry, counseling, for everyday people. (Author)

This workbook takes the theories and research from many disciplines and experts and combines them into short, easy-to-assimilate units that facilitate group participation at the high school and college level. Group skills are presented as 26 distinctive lessons. Each lesson begins with an explanation page, then an activity page gives the group an…

Describes the unexpected revelations, conflict, despair and joy, spontaneous love-feasts, and sudden enthusiasms that happen at weekend encounter centers around the country--all under the mantle of science. (RJ)

A group counseling contract was developed following American Psychological Association ethical guidelines. The contract was effective in enabling participants to quickly become involved in group process. The contract could be modified for use by group facilitators in a variety of settings. (Author)

Explores characteristics of group dynamics which teachers should be aware of in planning group activities for social studies classes. Provides guidelines by which teachers can plan group activities which help students attain cognitive, affective, and process-skill goals for the social studies. (Author/AV)

A social interaction intervention program implemented with three groups of preschool hearing-impaired children increased positive interaction, sharing, and conversation. Generalization of skills was observed when toys incorporated into intervention activities were presented during free-play probes. The importance of incorporating generalization…

Focuses on exploring approaches to better understanding of self, and examing school setting for purpose of enhancing well being of all children. (Author)