The term "risky shift" is used to describe the tendency of groups to make a collective decision that is less conservative than the members might make as individuals. Previous research on this subject has been based on three analytical categories: demographic makeup of groups, group familiarity with the task and information, or individual…

The superintendent of the Marlington Local School District (Ohio) outlines a program they have developed that encourages communication among staff, teachers, and administrators. The superintendent leads discussion groups that offer a chance to exchange views and air concerns that result in better communication patterns. (MD)

This paper describes a proportional reasoning problem set within a real-life context and a complete analysis of one small group discussion of this problem over the course of a 90-minute block. The seventh-grade students' discourse is described to provide insights into typical mathematical interpretations of this problem, as well as some…

A quality circle is a problem-solving method with emphasis on analytic thought, a task-structured group process, school and community issues, implementation of an action plan, and evaluation of results. Circles develop not only the gifted students' analytic thinking skills but also their responsibility and leadership skills. (Author/CL)

Finding ways to help primary-grade students overcome difficulties in solving mathematical word problems can be a daunting task for teachers in a regular classroom setting. Student challenges may include: (1) difficulty with vocabulary; (2) lack of confidence when solving problems; (3) confusion on the proper operation to use when solving a…

This article illustrates the kinds of mathematical discussions that should occur with students in classrooms. The authors use a sample from professional development to show discussions that focus on the relationships of events within a problem that led to each representation, the connections between the ways participants chose to represent those…

Due to the increased importance and usage of self-managed virtual teams, many recent studies have examined factors that affect their success. One such factor that merits examination is the configuration or composition of virtual teams. This article tackles this point by (1) empirically testing trait-configuration effects on virtual team…

Designed to be of practical assistance to those interested in improving their abilities for group discussion leadership and participation and their knowledge of learning-discussion groups, this book is organized so that the first seven chapters are concerned with theory and the last seven concern practical application. The chapter titles are as…

REVISED TO INCLUDE UP-TO-DATE MATERIALS, THIS BOOK IS CONCERNED WITH COOPERATIVE THINKING AS A DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURE. IT IS ADDRESSED TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN OR LEAD INFORMAL DISCUSSION IN SMALL GROUPS--COMMITTEES, STAFF MEETINGS, BOARDS, AND COUNCILS--AND TREATS IN DETAIL DISCUSSION IN THE CLASSROOM, RADIO AND TELEVISION, THE BUSINESS…

Describes the use of value analysis exercises to promote small group and class discussion. (MM)

Outlines how students can use creative problem solving to define, analyze, and improve classroom discussion. Demonstrates the importance of a fact-finding discussion and taping to clarify individual and group characteristics. Identifies techniques students can employ to learn more about themselves and about more cooperative discussions. (KEH)

Classroom video excerpts are often used to help preservice and practicing teachers explore students' mathematical ideas. This article describes several types of video clips that the authors have found to be particularly productive for this purpose. The authors also discuss three dimensions that can be used to characterize the student thinking…

Encouraging children to think--independently and publicly--is possibly one of any teachers' most challenging and rewarding responsibilities. Young children's less-developed language and listening skills further complicate teachers' work at the early elementary level. Yet, the author has been fortunate to work with many teachers who have embraced…

This article describes the A, E, I, O, U technique, designed to help teachers ensure that teaching and learning are not mutually exclusive in the classroom. Most teachers would agree that motivating average teenagers to communicate how they got an answer or justify their problem-solving strategies can be as difficult as teaching a dog to whistle.…