In June 1989, a study group was organized at Nassau Community College to encourage faculty to introduce the works of William Shakespeare in introductory literature courses. When the prospect of teaching Shakespeare to community college students was first considered, faculty expressed concern that their understanding of the issues surrounding…

A study examined the content and form of third-, fourth-, and sixth-grade students' verbal interactions while working in cooperative groups. Teachers were asked to conduct cooperative-learning reading lessons during the observation time. A total of 32 observations of students' cooperative group work were conducted in six classrooms during regular…

This paper discusses "Guided Design," a method for teaching course content which engages students in group decision-making, where problems are solved or issues are resolved in a step-by-step process using instructions and feedbacks especially prepared to make students think for themselves about subject matter rather than depend on the…

The study described in this report investigated the effects of two context variables on small-group learning--namely, group size and group gender composition--within an adult learning framework. In the study, the "revolving circle" method was innovated. In this design, one group member is the center of the cooperative circle and all…

Student course performance and course evaluation were compared for two methods of teaching general psychology. The self-paced method consisted of a modified Keller Plan (PSI) arrangement in which students progressed through small instructional units at their own pace. The lecture/discussion method consisted of a modified form of the traditional…

This booklet contains 10 short plays written especially for performance by spcial education students who ranged in age from five to ten and in academic level from kindergarten to fourth grade. The plays focus on promoting character development and topics include death, prejudice, manners, senior citizens, responsibility for others, and positive…

Seventeen papers from the University of South Africa's Conference on Distance Education are presented. They include: "Establishing a Formal Student Support System--Time Is of the Essence" (Karen Hinrichs); "A Student Services Unit in a Distance Education Institution" (Hendrik Gous); "Distance Education and the Community:…

In an effort to learn more about the teaching of reading and interpretation of poetry, a structured experiment was devised whereby college English majors used a combination of reading, writing and discussion to study James Wright's poem "A Blessing." The primary aim was to involve the students emotionally in a poem. Students were…

To create an introductory literature course which helps students develop positive feelings about reading and confidence in their abilities to create viable meanings out of a text, an alternative to the standard lecture format or "Socratic" class discussion is needed. Formed from a variety of research, theory, and classroom experience,…

An introductory problem for a theatre history course presents the process of group decision making and problem solving in theatre studies, encourages students to compare values when collecting information and making decisions, and illustrates the variety of dramatic forms, production styles, and economic concerns of contemporary theatre. Entitled…

To investigate the influence of group settings on the receiver's perception of an inducement to rhetorical transactions, 45 undergraduates in a basic speech communication course were asked to rank from most important to least important a group of items that might help survivors of an arctic plane crash. After completing individual rankings,…

Due to their increasing complexity, modern organizations require more effective integrating mechanisms. The conference, which can be a very positive thing for an organization as it provides rewards for members while performing a crucial communication function for the whole, is one possible mechanism. Communication is not only an inherent part of…

Four experimental studies were conducted to assess the differences in effectiveness of self-confrontation via TV when used exclusively and in combination with group discussion, discrimination training (training in the use of interaction analysis), and practice in a scaled-down situation (peerteaching) on "the indirectness" of future secondary…

A workshop was developed based on the work of Jacob Kounin, who identified many variables that are representative of teacher style and are strongly correlated with children's behavior in recitation settings. His work reviewed "desist" techniques employed by teachers to stop children's misbehaviors. The first step in developing the…

This self test was designed to help teenagers understand their feelings about cigarette smoking. The book contains a leader's guide which describes how the test can be used as a self-administered, self-scored tool; as a basis for group discussion; or for research purposes. Also included are six duplicating masters which are perforated for easy…