Recent empirical evidence suggests that the updated DeLone and McLean's information systems (D&M IS) model can identify the determinants of success of online communities in terms of member loyalty (Lin and Lee 2006). This study is similarly concerned with the challenge of identifying the determinants of success of online communities, but it…

The student learning process is important in online learning environments. If instructors can "observe" online learning behaviors, they can provide adaptive feedback, adjust instructional strategies, and assist students in establishing patterns of successful learning activities. This study used data mining techniques to examine and…

This article described the experiences of an inservice professional development program for teachers with a focus on online synchronous discussions. Transcripts of six online synchronous discussions containing 3600 messages from an online teacher professional development course were analyzed. In addition, the researchers interviewed 10…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a cultural gap in student perceptions of online collaborative learning and to investigate to what extent student perceptions, motivation, and learning strategies change over time due to the actual involvement in a collaborative e-learning environment (ELE).…

Over a 2-year period, several teacher book clubs were studied. Teachers' and preservice teachers' responses to a series of texts that focused on multiculturalism in American society were examined. Twelve elementary school teachers, representing four ethnic groups (European American, Asian American, African American, and Hispanic), volunteered to…

This booklet provides an introduction to the study circle, which features informal, face-to-face, sustained small-group discussion of social and political issues. Section 2 discusses how study circles integrate life and learning. Section 3 focuses on the significance of the study circle idea--bringing citizens back to political life. Study circle…

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)

The author advocates interactive instruction of small groups of students, rather than lecturing, and offers advice to both teachers and students involved in discussion groups. (SD)

This manual, with accompanying facilitator's guide, presents a program for drug education designed for use by groups of families led by volunteer facilitators. The program offers an approach toward building better communications and understanding among family members. The program consists of six group sessions based on learning experiences…

Readarama, a weekly reading group, was conducted in a retirement center in Athens, Georgia. Participants in the voluntary group were retired women who were lifelong readers and who continued to enjoy reading as a hobby. Because of differences in reading interests and in time available for reading, members read independently during the week;…

The article provides a format for a workshop in which three issues which must be resolved by educators of secondary aged students with behavior disorders are discussed. The three issues to be addressed are: (1) determination of appropriate curriculum emphasis, (2) parent training/involvement in intervention strategies, and (3) criteria for…

Parent programs for the Queens Borough Public Library's Operation Head Start Program are informational in nature and presented in the form of group discussions led by library personnel. This manual provides guidelines and materials listings, developed by the Library under the direction of the Adult Services Consultant, to assist branch librarians…

Sponsored by the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) and Country Women's Council (CWC), the seminar marked the first time that: (1) American Indian women met on a national basis and (2) Anglo women met with them. Attending the week-long seminar were 67 delegates representing 43 tribes from 23 states. Participants were selected who would…

Limited aspects of an innovative college freshman orientation program are discussed. The primary focus of all three papers is student values. Robert E. Bennett looks at contemporary societal changes and pressures which shape values and concludes that, in spite of them, many students maintain values similar to past generations. What is new is their…