Suggests that the short story, because of its brevity and simplicity of construction, is often more suitable than the novel for classroom discussion. (HOD)

Reports work on text from extended event of talking among professionals. Discusses problematic communication and implications of nonsuccess in social interaction. Believes failure in explanation or in resolving competing claims implies need for more adequate cognitive and cultural models of participants' knowledge and practices; theoretical…

Techniques for achieving control of and producing results from task-oriented meetings with peers are discussed, including acquiring a perceived mandate, structuring attendance, and developing a working, narrative agenda. A productivity matrix correlates meeting activities with appropriate group leadership behaviors. (SK)

The establishment of a mental health clinic in a community recreational park is described. (JD)

Discusses newsgroups, listservs, and Web-based discussion groups. Highlights include major categories of international USENET discussion groups; newsgroups versus mailing lists; newsreaders; news servers; newsgroup subscriptions; newsgroups versus Web discussion groups; linking newsgroups, mailing lists, and the Web; and setting up a news host. A…

Offers an "unabashed hymn of praise" to the National Endowment for the Humanities for its Summer Seminars for Secondary Teachers. Describes the pleasures, discoveries, and enriching conversations that have taken place at these seminars over the last 11 years. (TB)

Describes a strategy for improving the quality of class discussions. States two reasons why class discussions can be unsatisfying: (1) individual contributions are emphasized more than the merits of collective discussion; and (2) discussion performance is emphasized over development of discussion skills. Describes a student exercise to overcome…

Surveys, notes, and transcripts from 35 business administration students participating in group learning via chat rooms were analyzed. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated that electronic conferencing can effectively support groups in reflection, collective inquiry, and skillful discussion. (Contains 21 references.) (SK)

Defines "community conversations" as discussions which take place after performances in communal spaces, with audience members and artists speaking as equals. Outlines egalitarian qualities which define the best community conversations. Proposes that when an academic program or cultural institution is reconsidering its role in the community, a…

This study investigated Korean kindergartners' reasoning during group moral discussions of problematic situations based on pictures depicting problem situations. Findings revealed that young children were able to reason about others' perspectives, acknowledge problematic situations, grasp the causes of the problems, predict consequences, and seek…

Describes the incorporation of thematic teaching into the author's Reading-Writing Workshop class. Shares a few activities from one coming-of-age unit that increased engagement and helped students generate writing topics that genuinely interested them and related to the same theme. (SG)

Discusses how teachers make important choices in discussion groups as they support children's dialogue about social inequities. Notes that the kind of safety that developed did not mean that the talk was always pleasant and free of tension, but members could expect a balancing of support for responses with a questioning approach. (SG)

Employees in 5 organizations (n=104) participated in career-focused discussions. Analysis of 162 effective and 36 ineffective discussions showed that effective discussions produced multiple, often long-lasting, outcomes including clearer future direction, self-awareness, opportunity awareness, and better feelings about oneself and work. (Contains…

Discusses the use of exercises in groups with an emphasis on selection and effective processing. Processing skills are described and practical examples of questioning skills are given. (Author/TE)

Analyses qat sessions (small-group social gatherings centered on the use of a mild, euphoric stimulant, qat) in North Yemen. Explores their communicative form and function. (SR)