Describes classroom use of cooperative learning groups: small, carefully mixed, permanent groups of students who work together for cooperative team successes. This process encourages total class participation and group decision making, results in higher grades, and develops critical thinking as well as factual mastery. (LS)

Discusses uses of technology in distance education and describes a study of college graduate students that illustrated the effects of two different instructional delivery technologies on the nature of interaction in online education systems: one used a synchronous video link-up and one used an asynchronous computer-mediated communication system.…

Examines the cognitive and affective impact of a multimedia editing task. The study examined how junior high school students used multimedia to teach science topics to themselves and others. The results showed that, although the technology had an important role in student activity, the task itself was the main motivational aspect. (Contains 34…

Presents answers from a teacher, a curriculum developer, and from the educational literature to the question "What are some strategies for helping students work in groups?" Topics addressed include group size, heterogeneous grouping, roles in the group, necessary social skills, and teacher guidance. (PR)

Fourth and fifth graders (n=38) were trained in four thinking roles (task definer, strategist, monitor, and challenger) through small-group discussions to determine whether they retained and transferred their self-directed critical thinking skills. They applied the thinking roles effectively in comparison to untrained children up to eight weeks…

Relates findings of an empirical study of student use of an interactive videodisc to theories of learning and to other research findings. A study of 12- and 13-year-old students in England is described that examined problem-solving strategies, learning styles, conceptual understanding, group discussion, and the teacher's role. (Contains 17…

This study examined differences in individual influence and decision quality across communication media. Participants were 64 introductory psychology students. Results showed that influence for dominating participants remained stable across three media conditions (telephone, computer, and face-to-face). Less dominating participants had higher…

Discusses a first-year writing class composed of both Hispanic-American and Anglo students, arguing that rather than regarding online conflicts between students as mere "flaming," such conflicts can be seen as a way of helping students develop as literate citizens more aware of difference. (SR)

The purpose of this study was to foster preservice teacher learning of educational psychology by creating a Web-based learning community using actual case situations experienced during field observations. Participants (146 undergraduate students) were assigned to two electronic-conferencing groups where they generated teaching vignettes related to…

This activity allows students to explore the gray areas that lie between polar opposites on an issue. Recognizes the knowledge, opinions, and values supporting various positions that emerge as current positions and discusses the reasons for choosing them. Learning to be flexible and open is the goal of this activity. (PVD)

Investigates issues surrounding the use of tasks in oral tests with particular reference to group discussion. The article focuses on language testing, second-language acquisition, and discourse analysis to shed light on the selection of tasks for use in oral tests. (65 references) (Author/CK)

Examines the use of "type 2 discussion," in which the teacher creates an online conversation with the class. Suggests that, by adding type 2 discussions to a face-to-face developmental education class, faculty help students build their own knowledge base. Adds that the online component gives all students equal access to this knowledge…

Focuses on pedagogical communication patterns between students and tutors in a telecommunications learning environment. Results of evaluating student behavior in a set of telelearning computer science courses show that they differentiate between the personal dimension of communicating with others and the group dimension which enables true…

Examined discourse components, interaction patterns, and reasoning complexity of eighth-graders in two science classrooms as they constructed mental models of the nature of matter. Found that teacher-guided discussions were more efficient for attaining higher reasoning levels and higher quality explanations, but peer discussions were more…

Describes a lesson focusing on a human-rights poster that provides visual reinforcement of the second article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that enforces freedom from discrimination. Presents students with examples of human-rights situations to assist them in understanding that all people are entitled to human rights. (CMK)