Discussion done right is a marvelous tool for teaching and learning. Suggestions to help teachers improve classroom discussions are presented. Many of the suggestions are based on William S. Howell's and Donald K. Smith's book "Discussion." (RM)

Examined whether moral behavior and moral thought can be affected by discussion of Kohlberg-type moral dilemmas. Students (N=96) engaged in one of three discussion situations and a free-recall task. Results supported Kohlberg's suggestions that moral behavior as well as thought can sometimes be taught. (JAC)

Eduard Lindeman's book, "The Meaning of Adult Education," and its continued importance in higher education is discussed. Lindeman's thoughts on adult education and its social function and aesthetic relevance are explored. The use of discussion groups as a method of educational discourse is advocated. (DF)

Compared the effectiveness of cognitive restructuring (CR) and a structured group discussion (SGD) in preventing stress and improving self-concept in 209 high school freshmen. Results showed posttreatment attitudes were equal for both programs. The CR homework produced a significant decrease in students' perceived level of emotion. (JAC)

Presents the edited transcripts of some of the discussions authors held over the past year with a 26-year-old man labeled mentally retarded by his family, school teachers, and others in his life. (Author/AM)

A case study shows how a residence hall staffer developed a program around student interest in ultimate questions, religiously defined. (Author)

Reviews a study indicating that articulate deviates expressing themselves within the context of informal group discussions are capable of exerting considerable influence on the opinions of others. (MH)

The development of technologies enables us to create online learning environments. As online learning is expanding its role in higher education, it becomes one of fundamental issues how to create online learning environments to facilitate online interaction. One of the methods is using a discussion board where learners can interact with other…

This bulletin brings together the concepts of parent networking and the Internet. The document highlights key free or low cost features of the Internet which have proven to be useful tools in linking together networks of parents. It addresses the following six questions: (1) What if I don't have a computer? (2) How can I get Web access? (3) How do…

These classroom guides, designed to accompany the daily CNN (Cable News Network) Newsroom broadcasts for the month of April 2002, provide program rundowns, suggestions for class activities and discussion, student handouts, and a list of related news terms. Top stories include: Israeli soldiers attack Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah,…

This book describes an inquiry-oriented form of professional development--the New Teacher Group--which provides teachers with opportunities to engage in discussions with their peers about problems experienced in their professional lives. Blending school psychology and teacher education, the book adapts a consultee-centered consultation model…

Proponents of computer-mediated education suggest that the reflectivity, interactivity, and collaboration of online discussion provide an egalitarian learning environment for men and women. Others suggest that on-line discussion contains the same gender bias as face-to-face classroom communication. This study analyzed the 456 discussion postings…

Maruno-Kato Discussion Inventory (MKDI) is an inventory which consists of self-rating scales measuring discussion skills and related personality traits. Previously, we demonstrated that the MKDI has adequate qualities as psychometric tests. However, to show the effectiveness or validity of the inventory further, we need to demonstrate how well…

There is a growing interest among organizations in identifying and nurturing Communities of Practice. Delineating what is and what is not a Community of Practice (CoP) is not a clear-cut task. One specific area of difficulty is distinguishing between a team and a CoP. Because there are strong similarities between the two, it is often helpful to…

What do principals discuss when they get together to "talk shop?" This paper offers some answers and discusses implications for the preparation and professional development of school leaders. The activities reported in the paper were undertaken as part of the Cognitive Approaches to School Leadership (CASL) Project. In the broadest terms…