Describes the Colonial Junto organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1727 as a discussion club to debate politics, morals, and natural philosophy, and the later American Philosophical Society which extended (and continues) the subject knowledge. The present-day Junto Center for Continuing Education in Philadelphia is an adult education information…

Research addressing the use of small, semi-independent, task-centered student groups ("syndicates") as a classroom technique in higher education is reviewed. Focus is on the promotion of higher-order cognitive skills through the use of such groups. Related concerns include student achievement, group relations, and teacher style. (Author/JMD)

This article describes a procedure for group discussion between parents and adolescents on matters of human sexuality. (DB)

Describes METROPROB, a noncompetitive teaching game based on the theory of metropolitan locality-relevant problems and stressing their interactions. Discusses potential for teaching systemic analysis of urban problems and helping students think sociologically. (Author/CK)

Outlines the concept and forms of "action learning" for managers, stating that the best opportunities for learning take place in a manager's everyday job with group meetings to exchange learning. Describes a regional program in which managers from various organizations work on different projects and then have joint learning discussions.…

Examines learner strategy in two English-as-a-Second-Language classes in Singapore; one class received instruction in asking higher-order questions, whereas the other did not. The treatment class asked significantly more higher-order questions and provided significantly more elaborated responses during small group discussions. (51 references)…

Investigates students' own interpretations of their contribution to computer-mediated discussions. Subjects were 20 students between the ages of 15 and 16, who participated in computer supported collaborative learning inquiry in literature. Results show how individual students interpret their contribution to the collaborative knowledge…

ListServ allows all parties to speak in the same manner, regardless of their level of technology and bandwidth access. The entry barrier has always been lower than other related technologies. While the hyperbole continues to swirl around the Web as an educational medium, the quiet e-mail message, magnified through the use of ListServ, continues to…

Discusses various class activities conducive to second-language learning. These include working on a legal document, group singing, a presentation on environmental pollution resulting from plastic bags, and listening to a tape on an organization and then posing and answering questions regarding dealings with that group. (CK)

The use of a "2 x 2" matrix for introspection is described. Columns are labelled "Like" and "Don't Like" and rows are labelled "Have" and "Don't Have"; items are jotted down in each of the quadrants. Discussion includes self-diagnosis of responses, cooperative brainstorming and analysis, additional applications, and suggestions for filling out…

Describes the planning and implementation of an online writing center for adult students of SUNY Empire State College, a non-residential, independent-study distance-learning institution. Highlights informational and facilitative properties of hypertext and the need for a personalized instructor "voice." Components of the program included…

The experiences of some faculty members who were recently honored at the American Association for Higher Education's National Conference on Higher Education, where they participated in a Forum on Extraordinary Teaching, is described. To talk publicly about one's teaching was a unique experience for the participants. (MLW)

Investigates the discussions of fifth and sixth grade literature study groups led by teachers in training. Finds children of varying abilities participating in rich discussions of literature, articulating and changing their constructions of meaning, sharing personal stories triggered by the reading, hypothesizing and predicting, and evaluating the…

Examines three anecdotal cases of the teaching of evolution theory in an exploration of the best approaches for teaching about evolution. Three instructional options are presented: (1) readings in natural history, (2) commercially prepared activities, and (3) the use of small-group (peer) discussions. (LZ)

Focuses on two major applications of authentic materials: developing learners' language skills and orienting learners to the application of these skills in possible subsequent activities in the outside world. The article describes experiences in selecting and using authentic materials and in designing and evaluating tasks illustrating such…