Highlights what the literature says about conflict and its resolution. (IRT)

Reviews basic sociometric tools and their analysis, provides information on computer programs to analyze sociometric data, and briefly examines considerations in conducting sociometric investigations. Looks at the social atom (significant others), constructing sociometry questions, and offers an analysis of individual status and interactional…

A study examined the ability of six children (ages 8-12) with specific language impairment to participate in a group negotiation task. Each child interacted with two peers to select toys that children their age would enjoy. Subjects produced significantly fewer utterances than peers chronologically similar in age and language ability. (Author/CR)

Organized beginning and ending activities help campers articulate their experiences and feelings. Gives examples of playful beginning activities that help campers meet each other and support and celebrate the camp's vision for them. Presents ending experiences that bring closure to, and reinforce the positive aspects of, the experience, whether it…

The power of music to create a coherent group is amazing. Music can be used to help focus attention, encourage group unity, involve everyone, and allow creative self-expression. Discusses different song styles, simple rhythm instruments, and song writing. Song-leading tips include song choice, teaching techniques, motions, song sheets, and three…

Investigates how computers and modeling software contributed to students' interactions and learning in a physics course. Results indicate that while computer environments have some potential as learning tools, they also limit interactions in significant ways, rendering them less than ideal for everyday classroom use. Contains 60 references.…

Findings from three studies show that effective leaders have greater behavioral complexity and fill multiple roles better than ineffective leaders; listening skills are key to effective leadership; there are no gender differences in emerged leadership; and although task-relevant communication is important to leadership, other research indicates…

Investigates how Greek secondary school students interacted in pairs and fours while discussing and attempting to explain physical phenomena. Results indicate that students progressed significantly more in their physics reasoning after participation in fours than in pairs. Discourse analysis in different groupings suggests that differences were…

Examines the transition from a single conversation to two conversations in a group larger than three by focusing on three distinctive properties of the schisming-inducing turn (SIT): (1) the changes in recipiency structure; (2) the sequence-structural properties of the SIT and its uptake; and (3) the topical properties of the SIT. (61 references)…

A brainstorming variation used with discussion sections of a large class has students write ideas on Post-It notes, which can then be prioritized, categorized, sequenced, and grouped as needed, easily and quickly. The technique is useful for building thesis-writing skills, stimulating creation of a visual body of evidence, and encouraging…

"Crucial conversations" are about issues such as poor performance. How a camp director handles them can have a profound influence on a camp. Tips for succeeding at crucial conversations include; recognizing when you're having a crucial conversation; holding the right conversation; starting with your intent, not your content; starting with facts,…

Examines two approaches to explaining the relation between interaction and participator judgments in small groups--expectations states theory and the local management model. Notes that a social relations analysis of participator assessments in same- and mixed-sex groups of undergraduate students revealed consensus in participator judgments; and…

A New York camp program builds campers' social skills through use of "request power,""deny power," and conflict resolution. The steps of conflict resolution are position of strength, exchange of wants, proposals for win-win resolution, and acceptance or nonacceptance of proposal. Campers learn to identify what they want, listen…

Recounts the experiences of two different night hikes by junior high students in central Ohio which focused on writing a group poem and exploring the mysteries of the "unlit" world. Discusses imagery and features excerpts from "night" poetry, both that written by the students and readings from published poets. (PA)

Organizations learn when they embed new practices and values and make real changes. Organizational learning must address group tendencies toward helplessness and conformity. Individuals still bear responsibility for monitoring what is learned. (SK)