This study attempts to identify the reasons teachers give for using or not using small instructional groups in larger classroom settings and to investigate the relationship of teacher opinions about using small groups to teachers' problems in classroom management. The research was conducted in two phases, with sample sizes of 73 and 51 for phases…

The small group activities described in this paper resulted from the author's attempts to involve and challenge reluctant learners in an introductory college composition course. The paper describes the main types of activities used--oral discussion of readings, collaboration on structure drills, exchange of worksheets for peer correction, and…

THE EFFECT OF CONTACT WITH PERSONNEL OF A DAY CARE CENTER WAS COMPARED WITH VARIOUS METHODS OF COUNSELING IN ASSISTING PARENTS OF TRAINABLE RETARDED CHILDREN TO ADJUST TO THE FAMILY PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE RETARDATION. MAJOR OBJECTIVES WERE--(1) TO COMPARE ATTITUDE CHANGE AMONG PARENTS WHO OBTAIN COUNSELING THROUGH (A) INCIDENTAL CONTACTS WITH…

THREE STUDIES UNDERTAKEN AT BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY ATTEMPTED TO ASSESS THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF THE UNIVERSITY'S INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH AND A WHOLE-CLASS APPROACH TO TEACHING SPELLING IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES. THE FIRST-YEAR STUDY UTILIZED THESE TWO APPROACHES IN GRADES TWO THROUGH SIX. THE SECOND-YEAR PROJECT CONTINUED THE USE OF THESE…

A COMPARISON WAS MADE OF THE EFFECTS UPON LEARNING ACHIEVED FROM (1) EXISTING COMMERCIAL FILMSTRIPS, COMBINING VISUALS WITH PRINTED CAPTIONS AND (2) SIMILAR FILMSTRIPS, COVERING THE SAME CONTENT BUT PRESENTED IN SMALL, PREVIOUSLY TESTED SEGMENTS WITH ACTIVE RESPONSE REQUIRED OF THE STUDENT. ALSO, ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO (1) STUDY THE EFFECTS OF…

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF FOUR VARIABLES ON TEACHER SELECTION DECISIONS IN RELATION TO THE CONSISTENCY OF THE DECISIONS, THE FINENESS OF THE DISCRIMINATIONS MADE, THE TIME NEEDED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT THE DECISIONMAKER HAD IN HIS DECISIONS. THE FOUR VARIABLES WERE (1) AMOUNT OF…

This paper discusses new teaching approaches that are not heavily dependent on hardware, i.e., approaches that replace lectures with other activities such as small-group seminars and individualized instruction. Emphasis is placed on methods relevant to college physics education, such as the Keller Plan, modular instruction, audio-tutorial methods,…

The purpose of this research was to assess the relative effectiveness in changing attitudes of (a) a lecture method versus a discussion method of presenting drug information, and (b) large groups versus small groups as recipients of drug education efforts. A total of 475 basic trainees at Fort Knox, Kentucky were given a drug attitude and…

The problems which freshmen exhibit in using the written language extend beyond difficulties with mechanics to handicaps in using words to formulate and develop concepts. A linguistic approach to teaching freshman composition involves recognizing every linguistic act as creative and a word as having a history as well as a variety of meanings. In…

Reported is a study that was partly developmental and partly experimental. A series of worksheets were developed based on the Elementary School Science (ESS) unit, Batteries and Bulbs, and were used to teach three classes of sixth grade students. Two other classes covered the same material using a lecture-discussion technique. Student gains were…

These conference proceedings report the discussions of classroom teachers and university professors relating to the problems of teaching disadvantaged students. Topics treated were the inadequacies of teacher training, need for self-analysis during training, teaching of reading, grouping students for instruction, and the relation of the schools to…

Reported is a study of the feasibility and effectiveness of specialist and classroom teachers utilizing large-group instructional techniques in teaching selected science concepts to elementary school children. The experimental population consisted of 498 pupils (grades 1-6), in an elementary school which was designed and organized for team…

This paper defines individualized education as any procedures which are used to make sure that an individual student receives instruction specifically appropriate for him. General programs and day-to-day lessons are to be tailor-made to suit a student's learning needs and his characteristics as a learner. Group teaching, self-direction and mastery…

This research determined the viability of three alternative teaching designs which encouraged student involvement and inquiry activity: a) teacher-guided, b) group-planned, and c) individually oriented. Each of the three designs was assigned to two sections of an educational psychology course. The remaining two sections served as a control group.…

This book is a general report on aspects of group processes in elementary and secondary schools with reference to appropriate research. Group processes are defined as changes in the social unit known as the group that take place over a period of time; the expected changes occur in three domains--cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. The book…