Nine mentally retarded mothers received group training in decision making using vignettes describing child raising situations. Significant changes in identification of decision-making steps and their application were observed and maintained for a month after training for both types of vignettes. (Author/DB)

The article discusses advantages and disadvantages of one-to-one instruction of autistic students and alternatives including individualized instruction in a group, group instruction, and peer tutoring. (Author)

Describes the use of the jigsaw teaching technique (which requires each member of a small group to provide a key piece of information) in undergraduate psychology laboratory and discussion classes. Results indicate that students evaluate the approach favorably and that their academic performance improves with use of the jigsaw technique. (JDH)

This study investigated the ability of learning disabled, slow learning, and average children (N=39) to adapt learning strategies to different stimulus demands in small group learning situations. Findings demonstrated distinctly different patterns of strategy usage in each diagnostic category; all three groups were able to differentiate among…

Participants (N=54) of seven eight-week educational/support groups for relatives of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias evaluated the helpfulness of their group experience. The supportive aspects of the group and the information provided about medical and behavioral management of the patient were most highly rated. (Author/NRB)

Argues that software for electronic boards should address a variety of teaching styles, student abilities and ages, class textbooks, teaching objectives, and learning environments for flexibility of use. The software features that contribute to flexibility include frequent stops, options for going backwards, inter- and intra-unit jumps, and…

Describes the use of small writing groups in an advanced expository writing class and why the approach works. Includes a course syllabus. (HTH)

Presents a set of principles to serve as guides for motivating students: inviting success, cooperative learning, high expectations, set induction, and interaction. Includes a scorecard for rating motivational skills. (MD)

Provides a rationale for using group projects as a teaching method in technical writing classes. Includes a description of such projects, materials, and funding, as well as evaluation methods and guidelines. (HTH)

Describes the development of a course in organizational, as opposed to business, writing and its advantages and disadvantages. (AEA)

Assessed the nature of change over time in the family environment of 93 parents attending Adlerian parent education groups. Results suggested that overall, parents became more democratic from pretest to posttest, with a significant change in cohesion. Suggested that improvement may be preceded by intensification of problem behavior. (JAC)

One approach to increasing student involvement in the learning process is to divide the class into small groups such as the task group, discussion group, brainstorming group, tutorial group, explorer group, and discovery group. The structure of these groups and the role of the teacher in each are discussed. (EC)

The aim of this paper and guidelines is to provide a background and framework for considering the wide range of issues involved in the development and delivery of group-based parenting programs and support services. While the broad principles underpinning these guidelines apply to parent training/support groups in any setting, the focus is to…

Over the last 2 years, Accelerated Literacy Learning (ALL) has experimented with the small group model in early literacy intervention, with success comparable to that in one-to-one intervention. There can be little doubt that intervention provided to struggling readers is most effectively initiated at an early stage. The ALL program was conceived…

This informational 14-minute videotape describes the national initiative for "Reading First," the method of teaching reading according to scientifically based research findings. In the videotape, the narration concentrates on the opportunities Reading First offers for every child to learn how to read proficiently by the end of the third…