The authors believe that in order to fully develop as an individual and an effective member of a democratic society, one must be able to intelligently evaluate a wide range of conflicting and controversial viewpoints. And it is on this crucial point that our educational system has, no doubt unintentionally, failed a large number of citizens. This…

The purpose of this collection of 12 readings is to: 1) familiarize students with the general characteristics of groups occupying varying positions along the political spectrum; 2) present the opinions of several representatives of these viewpoints on the welfare state issue; and, 3) enable students to form their own informed and unemotional…

Noting that many teachers and parents are baffled by the repetitiveness of young children's conflict and by their own reaction to it, this book describes how adults can help children find alternatives to hurtful words and fighting by settling differences through a six-step mediation process based on several basic adult-child interaction…

This document explains how to establish study circles for public dialogue and community problem solving with the aim of building strong neighborhoods. The foreword explains the value of study circles in addressing the challenges currently facing all kinds of neighborhoods and presents 10 specific guidelines for organizing study circles in a…

The purpose of this study was to explore and investigate the ways faculty at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina, obtain information to support their teaching tasks. Information and Library Science faculty at the University of North Carolina were chosen as the population for this study. The study…

Researchers define learning in many different ways, but all agree learning causes a permanent change in human behavior. The purpose of this DETC Occasional Paper is to illustrate how the principles of learning can facilitate the design of effective instruction. The authors first describe the principles of learning (contiguity, repetition,…

This study was designed to explore the ways in which preservice teachers' reflective judgment levels influenced their perceptions of and decisions about complex and ill-defined dilemmas they encountered in their field placement classrooms. Participants were ten traditional-aged juniors in a college teacher preparation program who were completing a…

Three Spanish-speaking mothers of middle-school children, a relative of one of the mothers, a school librarian, and the researcher met regularly to establish a collaborative, two-way dialogue which would encourage social and educational equality and that would take contributions into consideration according to the validity of reasoning rather than…

Delineates four compelling reasons for placing bioethical issues, including abortion, in a curricular context. These include linking ethics and civics, preparing informed decision makers, public debate, and studying the future today. Includes activities and questions designed to provide students with a conceptual focus. (MJP)

Advocates teaching controversial issues to children, claiming that they already have some knowledge of these through their own experience and media exposure. Describes role-playing activities, including simulated small claims court and city council hearings. Provides an overview of a five-day instructional unit on violence. (MJP)

Investigates the use of computer conferencing in a second-language context with five English-for-Academic-Purposes students for the purposes of conducting discussions and introducing the students to writing as a process. Students dominated during discussions and received increased commentary on their writing; although the technology did not cause…

Presents an analysis and evaluation of a fictitious case study of a student teacher using cooperative learning in a global studies class. Includes comments and suggestions made by 10 teachers who also reviewed the case study. Discusses eight "probe questions" that focus on content decisions, teacher control, and equity. (CFR)

Argues that female students remain disproportionately quiet in geography classes because of male bias forms of instruction. Maintains that girls' interest and responses increased when examples and issues involving women were introduced. Includes tabulation and classification of responses by gender, and comments from female students. (MJP)

The strategies for breaking down the roadblocks and realizing the promise of active learning and inquiry instruction in the large class are being tested and publicized. Educators who have addressed the multitude of issues that underlie implementation of active-learning strategies in large-enrollment settings are conscientiously spreading the word…

This study tested a causal model of the influence of tutor behavior on student achievement and interest in the context of problem-based learning. Data were gathered from 524 tutorial groups involving students in the health sciences curriculum at the University of Limburg in the Netherlands during 1992-93. Correlations among the 261 tutors' social…