Explores the relationships among school climate, group openness, group trust, and the implementation of two Kentucky reform initiatives: school-based decision making and nongraded primary classes. Participants included 292 teachers in 13 schools. The Tennessee School Climate Inventory and the Group Openness and Trust Scale were used. Results…

An ongoing parent education/support group for Mexican-origin Latino parents of young children with Down's syndrome was developed. The paper discusses culturally mediated concepts related to group structure, membership, and leadership; problems affecting maintenance and growth of the group; and potential value of such support groups for this parent…

A double procedure for meetings is proposed: one dealing with general administrative matters and the other with "free association of ideas" to solve problems. Examples of problem solving by mentors of gifted underachievers illustrate the approach. (DB)

Using ethnographic methods and taking a sociocultural perspective, examined preschoolers' social competence. Focused on the interactions of two children who were members of a peer group and one who sought membership in the group but was rejected. Discusses the importance of the sociocultural perspective to understanding children's social…

Using a system of alumni class agents for college advancement can be effective, but common problems include weak class identity, large class size, overburdened staff, and poor class communication. Institutions can help by offering on-campus training for class agents, communicating regularly, and recognizing agents' contributions and successes.…

Describes a role-playing simulation of a public meeting where community members are concerned about toxic material dumping. Use of the simulation in postgraduate management courses to emphasize the importance of trust between people and between groups in work situations is discussed. (four references) (LRW)

Extension educators can play a role in resolving environmental disputes by applying Hackman's group effectiveness model for consensus-based decision making. The model focuses equal attention on personal needs, interpersonal relationships, and solutions that are acceptable to all stakeholders. (SK)

A discussion of team-building in organizations looks at the essential components of trust, common purpose, supportive internal and external environments, and cohesion. Barriers to team development, such as internal competition or communication problems, and the role of the team leader are also discussed. A student campus organization is used for…

Highlights the importance of constructive conflict management in resolving disagreements arising from diversity. The authors discuss policy recommendations for implementing conflict-management programs in schools, training individuals in nonschool settings, and designing cross-cultural programs for high-risk inner-city youth. Procedural…

Multicultural community building, a teacher education curriculum, includes a community training component that seeks to develop a sense of community. The curriculum is intended to relate "community" to the goals of multicultural education; its basis is personal interaction and development. (SK)

Examines one "Teachers as Readers" group, in which teachers meet to read and discuss children's literature. Finds that (1) reading can be defined as making meaning from picture book illustrations; (2) collaboration can be defined as listening to students; and (3) readers respond differently to books based on the beliefs and values they…

Describes the use in business-communication classes of Team Learning, an approach to teaching in which students spend approximately 80% of their in-class time working in permanent, heterogeneous teams, becoming active and responsible participants in the learning process. Describes the instructional activity sequence, getting started, forming the…

Students aged 11-12, placed in groups of four, used word processors to write about a dramatized event using persuasive, newspaper, recount, or report styles. Students' talk as they engaged in the task was analyzed to illuminate the linguistic and cognitive processes involved in group construction of text. (Author/SV)

A group solving the task of climbing a steep wall illustrates how adventure education can enable participants to trace how they get stuck in their view of things, and what it takes to adopt a new and generative image. The ability to change metaphors can be applied to core metaphors of relationships, communication, and visions of oneself. (TD)

Considers whether cultivation of true collaborative learning is a realistic ambition with very young children; analysis of the social dynamic suggests that it is well within the reach of children as a form of social exchange. Argues that the new technology offers a potential for supporting the development of collaborative learning in early…