Documenting collaborative knowledge construction is critical for research in computer-supported collaborative learning. Because this is a multifaceted phenomenon, mixed methods are necessary to construct a good understanding of collaborative interactions, otherwise there is a risk of being overly reductionistic. In this paper I use quantitative…

Parent training groups frequently show low attendance rates and are often costly to administer. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop and evaluate brief, effective interventions that can be delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner. Using two therapeutic components that have demonstrated efficacy, the following study attempted to…

This paper explores the possibilities of teaching Genesis and the Popol Vuh, the Mayan creation account, in an interdisciplinary course at a church-related institution. The course is part of an alternative, interdisciplinary core curriculum typically taken by two hundred students a year at the university. A comparison of the Popol Vuh with Genesis…

According to this author, professional development in most school districts usually is not what teachers call worthwhile. Most is mandatory and tied to the latest literacy "fix," new district systems, text adoptions and occasionally, a speaker who has something new to share. She contends that meaningful professional development should be an…

Children's daily experiences in classrooms can help them understand how to be responsible citizens in a classroom community. Educating children about democracy involves two key elements on which teachers should capitalize: (1) children's curiosity and (2) their experiential learning. To develop responsible citizenship, families and teachers need…

Background: An important element in the experiences of people with autism is the key role played by therapeutic interventions. This paper examines the role of therapeutic intervention and the construction of individuals with autism in the therapeutic relationship. Method: The contributions to four online asynchronous discussion lists were analysed…

Because of an absence of dialogue, a tense relationship appears to exist between Wisconsin's gay men's book discussion groups and their local public libraries. Public library directors express interest in accommodating these groups if approached but face budget restrictions and local communities that may oppose these gatherings; gay men's book…

In September, 1958, The Canadian Education Association (CEA) hosted a panel discussion on the current status and emerging requirements of educational research in Canada. The panelists' comments are firmly rooted in the context of the 1950s. Half a century later, Penny Milton, CEO of CEA, takes a look at their comments and suggestions. This article…

Student outcomes in online courses trail considerably behind those in face-to-face courses. In order to gain insight into why this might be, the Community College Research Center (CCRC) undertook a series of studies that examined 23 high-demand, entry-level online courses at two community colleges in one state. CCRC researchers observed the online…

This article offers a critique of the lack of attention to the place of online course offerings in foreign language departments and/or distance education in general by the MLA's 2007 report on foreign language departments and their role in the academy. The article responds to how currently accessible technology (course management system platforms…

This guide contains ideas and documents from study circle programs throughout the United States. The guide is organized in five parts that cover the following topics: (1) introduction--what are study circles, how do they function?; (2) basic steps in creating a community-wide program; (3) sample documents including program description, community…

Part of a larger study of volunteerism, a consulting team of nine individuals worked in eight countries studying the words used to describe people who "volunteer." Consultants participating in the discussion represented Australia, Ecuador, the United States, Jamaica, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Spain. The goal of the overall study was to…

A conflict resolution exercise has been developed for use in leadership training in small groups. The objectives of the exercise are to provide a decision-making experience in an environment that requires numerous applications of conflict reduction, to enable participants to apply strategies for dealing with specific conflict disruptions that…

The Rockdale County Board of Education (Georgia) operated an inservice program on desegregation in 1969. The purpose of the program was to prepare the school system and the community for desegregation by working with the teaching staff. A Coordinating Committee was set up, which participated in sensitivity training sessions in order to lead small…

Two experiments were conducted which studied seating distance of subjects in a small group discussion situation. In Experiment I groups of three subjects sat on cushions in a bare carpeted room along with a moderator and discussed a socially relevant issue. The distances generated by subjects' placement of their cushions served as the main…