This discussion of teaching methods in higher education in Great Britain focuses on lectures as the dominant method and explores ways to change to more student-centered methods of instruction. A study is described that used interviews and questionnaires to determine teacher and student views on lecture versus discussion formats. (LRW)

Some generalizations about teaching are seen as false including: the silent student is an uninvolved learner; grades are a necessary evil; discussion is preferable to lecture; teachers are fellow-learners with their students; students need to acquire, not memorize information; and instruction must be geared to student backgrounds and aspirations.…

This description of an illuminative evaluation process as a qualitative research method focuses on a study of concerns about financial constraints in the British Open University. Interviews and open-ended discussions were used to encourage participation and input by a wide variety of individuals with differing perspectives on the problem. (LRW)

Argues against using neutrality as a method for teaching multicultural, antiracist education on the grounds that taking a neutral stance allows the stronger force to prevail over the weaker. States that teachers should alert students to the major alternatives available, allowing them to reflect on and modify their moral framework. (GEA)

Discusses a normative basis for an approach to teacher education that contributes to the establishment of more critical and emancipatory practices in the public schools, and links these ideas to the broader tradition of radicalism in teacher education. Teacher educators need to become more politically involved to reform teacher education.…

Discusses the issue of mandatory genetic screening. Poses the question of the benefits, drawbacks, and motives involved. Provides a discussion activity to be used in high school biology classes consisting of a hypothetical situation and several questions. (CW)

Reports on a study that found that children who read, write, and discuss whole texts of their own choice show remarkable insights into literature and its making, and that the insights match those of experienced adult literary critics. (SKC)

Describes the fundamentals of reader response theory, focuses on the aspects most relevant to reading instruction, and presents a method of teaching using reader response as a vehicle for improving student ability to learn from text. (NKA)

Describes the Mississippi Governor's School, an intensive three-week summer school for gifted high school students. Explains format of major courses, use of the American Chemical Society computer course in polymer chemistry, discussion sections, and hands-on laboratory. (JM)

Investigated the effects of immediate instructor feedback, via a video display system (ComET system), on the performance of group discussion participants. Found that receivers of immediate feedback were more satisfied with their performances, participated in discussions of higher quality, and were no more anxious than individuals not receiving…

Examines problems with improving oral language skills of limited-English-speaking adults and describes a university English as a second language course that is organized around issues in the women's movement. Topics are selected by the students, and a variety of approaches are used. A lesson plan and evaluative remarks are included. (AMH)

A weekly discussion group for first-year medical graduate students to discuss stress in their lives revealed three major sources of stress: (1) high expectations of themselves under conditions of high time and professional pressure; (2) loss of control over one's life; and (3) ambivalence about dependence versus independence. (MSE)

Contributors offer suggestions concerning parents as reading stimulators, book discussions, a test bank for the secondary school/college reading lab, standardized reading tests, television reading, plagiarism, vocabulary development, and book reports. (FL)

Examines students' difficulties in reading literature and suggests methods for helping them to develop and improve skills necessary for the mature reading of literature. (MM)

This paper discusses the use of learner-authored texts to encourage conceptual change in college English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, examining the process of and conditions for conceptual change and reasons to promote the use of student-authored texts. Participants were first-year accounting majors enrolled in a comprehensive EFL course…