This article warns against an emphasis on teaching basic skills at the expense of broader and more humanistic education. (JD)

Group work in language classrooms has the advantages of involving a more natural type of language and letting each student participate more. Effectiveness of this method is not certain, however. Questions of size and composition of groups and types of group activities are discussed. (CHK)

Describes successful black schools where students do read at grade level. (MKM)

Compares discussion in teacherless small group with that in a class lesson. (AA)

Investigates the group participant characteristic of unwillingness to communicate as it effects information processing in small groups. (MH)

The effectiveness of small group instruction in test taking skills was evaluated with 85 learning disabled or behaviorally disordered students in grades four to six. Trained students scored significantly higher than nontrained students on Stanford Achievement subtests of word study skills and mathematics concepts. (DB)

Presents the small group discussion techniques of eight English teachers from junior high through university levels. (JG)

This study investigated whether learning with a computer in small group settings would produce higher levels of achievement, attitudes, and prosocial orientation than learning in individualized settings. Participants were 115 junior high school students. Results and their implications are discussed. (Author/MT)

Strategies are described for combining students of different ability levels in games and sports with consideration of movement and fitness demands, purpose and skill complexity, environmental considerations, and cognitive and social considerations. (CB)

Describes a technique for teaching human sexuality in the undergraduate classroom in which the teacher portrays a famous person presenting sexuality topics from his or her perspective. Describes the content of several of these "guest lecturers." Explains the benefits and potential problems of the method. (AEM)

A study comparing the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and small group instruction found no significant difference in medical student achievement in oncology but higher achievement through small-group instruction in hematology. Students did not view CAI as more effective, but saw it as a supplement to traditional methods. (MSE)

Advocates the use of active learning experiences in introductory sociology classes. Describes the use of an active learning module and reports results of students' learning. Concludes that students in the active learning condition did worse on a concept/definition test, but performed better on subjective measures of sociological thinking. (JDH)

The effectiveness of two career development treatments were compared. No significant differences were found. Implications for career development services are presented. (Author/ABB)

Provides a description of a classroom procedure incorporating small group work to help students develop critical thinking skills. (DF)

Offers adaptations of content area reading techniques that can help teachers integrate mainstreamed children into small groups with other members of their classes. Techniques include (1) the Jigsaw strategy, (2) the list-group-label strategy, and (3) the small group structured overview. (FL)