Discussion of the educational needs of students who are both gifted and learning disabled focuses on terminology, definitions, characteristics, identification, and instructional programming. A study showing the effectiveness of systematic direct instruction in small groups for this population is summarized. (DB)

Describes a study that was conducted to determine how high school students would solve an information problem: specifically, what prior learning students had about information seeking and use, and how they would use that prior learning. Highlights include group work; topic selection; and reasons for unsuccessful use of libraries, including…

Undergraduate and graduate computer information systems students were surveyed regarding the effectiveness of various teaching formats and aids. Results revealed that small group projects and traditional formats are both very effective learning methods; group size impacts teaching effectiveness; and resources should be directed toward providing…

Maintains that writing ability is vital in fulfilling geography discipline objectives of mutual understanding and emancipation. Reports on a study of the use of writing groups in college geography classrooms in the United States and Australia. Includes a student essay evaluation guide as an appendix. (CFR)

Presents secondary students' perceptions of cooperative learning (CL) in an attempt to understand how and why CL benefits students affectively and cognitively. After describing the structure of learning and schooling, the article discusses how CL promotes positive interdependence, social skills, work skills, and individual accountability. (SM)

Describes a problem to challenge students as they come back from summer vacation. Working in small groups, students discover Pick's Theorem, the formula to calculate the area of a polygon constructed on a geoboard. A writing assignment evaluates the students' efforts. (MDH)

Investigated why, contrary to expectations, group performance in a written test of problem solving was not better than individual performance. Examined protocols of students solving problems in groups and concluded that in much of the group discussion, students passed over right ideas in favor of simpler, but erroneous, ideas. (14 references) (MDH)

Observation of English-as-a-Second-Language students' small-group writing activities involving a word processor found that the word processor was a valuable tool in promoting writing abilities and providing excellent interactional activity. (four references) (Author/CB)

Discusses historian Henry Adams' disillusionment with the educational system and with his own teaching. Suggests improving history instruction by involving students more actively in learning. Proposes incorporating interactive learning strategies including (1) interactive lectures; (2) questioning; (3) small groups; (4) critical thinking and…

Describes an interactive video system, VISTRAIN (Video-Based Integrated System for Training Applications), which was developed by the National Computing Centre in the United Kingdom for the Scottish Police College to help train police supervisory officers in crowd control. Group training is discussed, and management training applications are…

Describes a study conducted at the University of Ulster (Northern Ireland) that investigated the use of videoconferencing in postgraduate continuing education courses for teachers, both for on-campus and off-campus course delivery. Face-to-face contact with tutors, group cohesiveness and independent learning, and tutor support are discussed.…

Discusses the use of holistic scoring in the introductory college psychology course. Presents data showing the reliability, validity, and efficiency of the holistic scoring of students' written work by teaching assistants. Argues that holistic scoring is a high quality, low cost approach to scoring written work in large classes. (SG)

Recommends adding electronic keyboard to vocally based music curricula for elementary students. Argues that the keyboard provides a graphic representation for musical understanding. Suggests teaching keyboard in small, manageable, hierarchically structured steps. Offers suggestions from finger placement and creating sound effects in first grade to…

Discussion of the collaborative use of computers in the classroom highlights the National Curriculum in the United Kingdom. Literature is reviewed which tends to support the generalization that the use of computers in groups leads to positive educational gains, and teacher attitudes are explored. (45 references) (LRW)

Describes the evolution and testing of an inservice special education teacher training project in which teachers engaged in collaborative strategy instruction with small groups of severely reading-delayed adolescents. An analysis of videotaped pre- and posttest reading sessions showed significant gains in many dimensions related to fostering…