The essence of the computer revolution is yet to come, for computers are essentially generators of realities. Virtual reality (VR) is the next step in the evolutionary path; the user is placed inside the image and becomes a participant within the computational space. A VR computer generates a direct experience of the computational environment. The…

This Digest discusses approaches to group learning in the language classroom, presenting some principles that are common to any group learning approach, whether it be cooperative learning, student team learning, group investigation, or collaborative learning. The Digest also discusses the Collaborative Learning Model (Reid et al., 1989) which…

The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary examination of the efficacy of two teaching methodologies: traditional lecture versus cooperative learning. A sample of 50 students was taken from a mid-size, southern, metropolitan university. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: 27 who learned course material via the traditional lecture…

Recent psychological research in motivation has resulted in several goal orientation theories that have important implications for improving learning and instruction, especially for musical performance groups. Goal theory proposes that there are two general goal orientations students can adopt: a task-focused orientation with an intrinsic focus on…

This paper presents an instructional strategy found to be effective in meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional (CLDE) students. The strategy, called "Committees," involves dividing the class into small groups and assigning each group a different activity revolving around a selected theme or concept. Students rotate…

Students' confidence calibrations on quizzes taken individually and again in structured learning groups were examined. Under conditions of weekly feedback on accuracy and confidence, students working as individuals and in groups were hypothesized to improve not only their accuracy, but also their calibration of confidence. Findings were based on…

This paper presents a study that investigated academic achievement of students (total n=407) guided by student tutors compared with students guided by faculty tutors at the Law School of the University of Limburg, the Netherlands. Two methods of assessing students' achievement on end-of-course examinations were used: expert judgements and…

It is proposed that "method" is not a relevant construct for fostering change in the second language classroom, and that concern with specific methods can divert educators' attention from important instructional issues. Teachers usually organize instruction around tasks rather than methods, and therefore it would be more useful to analyze,…

An examination was conducted by a teacher who was interested in how the responses of three multihandicapped students (7-8 years old) differed in one-to-one and one-to-three instructional arrangements given (1) the physical limitations of the students; (2) an activity that demanded much physical prompting; and (3) limited instructional resources.…

The nature of the small group in university teaching and the role of the tutor is considered, and reference is made to the British system. After describing the way a free group achieves a working relationship, the importance of understanding and utilizing communication patterns to increase the effectiveness of a seminar or tutorial is noted.…

The adult educational methods eliminate teaching but draw upon and mobilize knowledge and understanding already existing in individuals, making it generally available: (1) a type of brainstorming which avoids one-track discussion and one-member domination, and (2) a structured, task-based, personal encounter utilizing resource packets. (Author/AJ)

At the University of Oregon, career planning classes with as many as 128 students have shown that the large class experience can be valuable to each student. (Author)

Cooperative learning as a promising approach for higher education is discussed in terms of its relation to active learning, cognitive processing, and personalizing principles and concepts. Preliminary data from experimental classes demonstrated little advantage for a group improvement incentive. While students in the bottom third of these classes…

Peer tutoring is the system of instruction in which learners help each other and learn by teaching. Tutoring schemes have been used in a variety of contexts--with students teaching students, students teaching school pupils, non-professional adults teaching adults and children, and pupils teaching pupils. This book: (1) describes specimen tutoring…

Group practicum classes in counselor training most commonly blend didactic information, case presentations, and interpersonal process material. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of these three classroom events on 17 students' conscious awareness of their development as counselors. Data consisted of group practicum students'…