This article presents a strategy for an idea exchange system appropriate to many situations in which a group--teachers, colleagues, staff members--needs to collect individual ideas and reach group agreement. This model, a Nominal Group Technique, is appropriate for student groups as well. (Author)

Eisner's educational criticism model produces a richer description of an English classroom than does Flanders' interaction analysis. (Author)

This paper describes a study that investigated the communication network efficiency and network efficiency stability of four urban high schools, using a sociometric questionnaire and a computer-developed communication matrix. Working hypothesis for the study was that schools with fewer staff members would have more efficient and more stable…

Analyzes and categorizes directional factors, and exploratory sequences related to them, via videotaped sessions of two teenage school work groups. Shows stimuli which initiate exploratory sequences are found for all directional factors in problem solving or decision making. Reveals rule-governed or routinized behavior relates to directional…

In a sociolinguistic study of five transcripts of high school discussions, two analyses were conducted. The first was a detailed qualitative analysis of the data, which combined paralinguistic features with three perspectives: a speech act analysis, a conversation analysis, and an interaction analysis. In the second, more quantitative analysis,…

This study recorded and analyzed 96 student discussion groups to identify successful dialogue strategies; to highlight difficulties deriving from group characteristics; and to examine how students behave, what they gain, and which students benefit most. A model of a successful discussion is outlined and study findings considered. (Author/SJL)

The first year of a proposed five year evaluation of the extended pilot trials of CEMREL's Aesthetic Education Program, AEP, is discussed. This program envisions the development of an aesthetic education curriculum for grades K-12 and is an attempt to involve the children in integrated arts experiences - music, drama, dance, art, and literature.…

This study investigated the relationship between teacher behavior and pupil reflective dialogue in the classroom assuming that social problems provide a natural springboard for inquiry through classroom discussion. It was hypothesized that different teacher strategies promote different types of class interaction. Discussion styles were to be…

The central concern of this study, which was briefly reviewed in ED 049 143, was to determine effective teaching strategies and practices in secondary social studies classroom discussions of social issues. Teaching effectiveness was evaluated in terms of the cognitive or critical thinking skills of participating students, and their attitudes…

The main objective of this study was to develop a category system to analyze or evaluate issue-centered classroom discussion (teaching-learning processes, cognitive and affective classroom interaction, verbal transactions (communication patterns), and, achievement of behavioral objectives). Behaviors investigated were: the extent of Michigan…

Group participation by Israeli youth is examined in light of the Theory of Status Characteristics and Expectation States. This theory maintains that social and/or group status influences expectations of competence and triggers self-fulfilling prophecies of performance. An experiment designed to prevent unwanted dominance of high status…