Adolescents (n=18) with learning disabilities or low achievement were trained to use interactive dialogs to collaboratively plan and revise individually written opinion essays. Analysis indicated that, when compared with untrained controls, trainees improved significantly from pretest to posttest in clarity and cogency of their writing and…

An approach to college teaching that encourages active student involvement in learning and student responsibility is described as applied in an introductory education course. The learning situation has structured activities, but students decide what to study, plan actions, and follow through. Processing experiences and understanding is emphasized.…

Examines the negative consequences of group grades in cooperative learning situations: they are unfair; they make report cards less meaningful; they undermine motivation; they convey the wrong message; they violate individual accountability; and they create parental resistance to cooperative learning. Alternative ideas for rewarding group efforts…

Addresses both pedagogical and logistical concerns and objections to writing-across-the-curriculum programs in introductory content-area courses. Explains how instructors may use writing to help students master course content and how instructors can create a classroom structure to ease the pressure on themselves to respond to student drafts. (TB)

Examines the research dealing with integrating cooperative-learning strategies and computer-based instruction, and provides guidelines and strategies for designing Integrated Learning System (ILS) instruction that enhances opportunities for cooperative learning. (Author/AEF)

Observed four fifth-graders who collaboratively solved problems integrating concepts related to fractions and area. Compared features of learning through peer collaboration with teacher-directed learning, including whole solution versus component parts, appropriation versus scaffolding, analysis versus synthesis, conflict versus errorless…

Describes a collaborative project that allows students to explore the role of culture in child development and education through an in-depth study of mathematics education in the United States and Asia. Reports that the assignment is effective in helping students to understand cultural influences and the ecological model of child development. (DSK)

Outlines steps instructors must undertake to prepare for constructivist activities. Presents two categories of constructivist activity supported by the Web. Students may construct advanced mental models by: cooperating with peers, and/or connecting personal conceptions with expert conceptions. Online environments that allow learners to perform…

Explores learning strategies for using the Internet in social studies instruction. Provides an annotated list of websites that help teachers with methods and ideas for assignments. Offers contact information for teachers who want to submit web-based lesson plans. (CMK)

Discusses the process of creating a course that aims to strengthen in students the four central components of civic learning (motivation, skills, knowledge, and values) by employing three different types of instruction (service learning, collaborative learning, and problem-based learning). Describes the course and its success in fostering civic…

Describes the design of a prototype for the graphical user interface component of an electronic classroom (ECR) application that supports real-time lectures and question-and-answer sessions between an instructor and students. Based on requirements analysis and an analysis of competing products, a Web-based ECR prototype was produced. Findings show…

Discusses group problem solving processes, how status can harm group problem solving, and how the politeness of students' criticisms reflects status. Reports on analyses of the determinants of group solutions, perceived leadership, and biased evaluations during collaborative problem solving in which students attempted to solve an algebra problem.…

Thirteen suggestions for preventing the growing problem of peer cruelty at school include: adopt a schoolwide character education effort; create a classroom community; allow children to help set rules; teach empathy; practice cooperative learning; allow children of different ages to work together; teach social skills to end victimization; empower…

Evaluated a peer assessment procedure to factor in the contributions of individual group members engaged in an integrated group project. Findings demonstrated that the method resulted in a substantially wider spread of marks being given to individual students; about one-third received a grade different from the grade the project as a whole would…

Discusses the benefits of collaborative writing in a writing workshop and the value of a social cognitive approach to learning for middle school students. Examines a taped collaborative writing workshop to demonstrate themes of using exploratory talk to stimulate thinking, promoting conceptual understanding, internalizing language to gain…