Presents the materials and procedures for an instructional activity using a student forum to discuss litigious activity in the United States. The forum is an organized role play where students assume the representative roles including a single working mother, the CEO of an insurance company, a corporate lawyer. (MJP)

Recommends using focus group interviews and other discussion techniques, generally used in business, to examine social studies issues. Outlines and discusses how these techniques (systems thinking, mental models, shared vision, team learning) can greatly enhance social studies instruction of current events and controversial issues. (MJP)

This article describes the establishment of a "women's issues" group with middle-school gifted girls. Ground rules for the group, selection of materials for discussion, issues discussed, and outcomes of the group are highlighted. Participants were found to like learning, like thinking about abstract issues, and have high academic goals. (CR)

Considers how to address the topic of diversity in library and information science education, based on six possible scenarios that address situations dealing with proportional representation in library collections, minority recruitment, stereotypes, English-only policies, affirmative action, and immigrants. (LRW)

Discusses Boyer's proposal to incorporate the seven human commonalities into college courses so that students will become less parochial and more global individuals. Describes the application of this commonalities approach to both a general education course and an introductory course for biology majors. Commonalities are presented in a…

Compares male and female perceptions of and confidence in an experimental physics class at the University of Arkansas. The class, a National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored project, attempts to improve the educational experience for all students. Women made statistically significant gains in confidence and attitude toward science in the…

Notes that there is a rich literature within social studies education promoting the teaching of controversial issues. Observes that, despite this, teachers continue to be cautious, only giving controversies a token nod in curricula. Suggests four reasons why controversial content continues to be difficult for teachers to implement. (DSK)

Describes use of an interactive Web forum to provide a safe vehicle for social work students to dialogue concerning the dynamics of social oppression and cultural diversity. Analyzes usage patterns of the website and data from student evaluations. Offers recommendations for using computer technology to meet the challenges inherent in teaching…

Describes a lesson consisting of activities such as a mock town hall meeting, forming a lobby group, and attending a town hall meeting. Focuses on community-based issues and the role of citizens in bringing about change at the local level. (CMK)

Discusses reading with pre-teens Francine Pascal's "Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends," one of a series of pre-romance novels featuring identical twin sisters. Interviews six girls using the Symbolic Representation Interview (SRI) about the good girl/bad girl dichotomy in novels and other media. Provides comments by Tom Romano and Diana Mitchell.…

Explores the content and history of the last three constitutional amendments: (1) presidential succession and disability (the Twenty-fifth amendment); (2) voting rights for young people (the Twenty-sixth amendment); and (3) congressional pay raises (the Twenty-seventh amendment). Includes questions for discussion. (CMK)

Investigated the effects of three types of interaction (academic, collaborative, and social) on learning, satisfaction, participation, and attitude toward online learning in a Web-based environment with undergraduates in Korea. Concludes that social interaction with instructors and collaborative interaction with peers are important in enhancing…

Presents a lesson where students interact with the art of the Gilded Age and learn about various artists from the time period as a means to review the major themes of the Gilded Age. Explains that this lesson addresses the National Standards for U.S. History. Provides teacher notes, extension activities, and additional sources. (CMK)

Explains that this student forum provides students with an opportunity to learn more about human rights through role-play and specifically allows them to debate the issue of whether U.S. citizens should have an absolute right to adequate health care. Offers roles for students who intend to share their views in the panel discussion. (CMK)

Examines the role of discussion groups in a case-based environment. College students completed two cases individually or in small discussion groups. Overall, participants in groups liked their method significantly better than those who worked alone, felt they learned more working in a group than they would have working alone, and expressed a…