Discussion of how information technology affects higher education focuses on ethical dilemmas and creating appropriate policies and guidelines. The process of exercising discipline within a university community is considered, and one model of policy creation and community process that used facilitated discussions at the University of Michigan is…

Fifteen true-false statements are provided that are to be used to spur discussion and arguments about the concept of motion. Each statement is carefully worded to sound plausible, but each one attacks some misunderstanding common to students who are encountering Newton's mechanics for the first time. (KR)

Describes a program in which groups of middle school and junior high teachers read and discuss popular, best-selling literature, for the purposes of promoting their personal reading and enhancing school faculty camaraderie. (PRA)

The literature seminar format meets the needs of gifted students for intellectual challenges, complex curricular experiences, creative research and writing activities, and stimulating interactions. Three seminars conducted in the English curriculum at a special school for gifted students are described: "Dickens and the Industrial…

Discusses what the author learned about teaching the questioning process from a class of second graders when they elected to discuss a student-posed question that seemed nonsensical to the author. Shows that what adults think are good questions for discussion are not necessarily what children think will generate interesting and deep talk. (SR)

An experiment using electronic mail discussions to improve communication in a college class of 200 students yielded over 1,780 messages, with two-thirds sent by about one-fourth of the students. Two problems emerged: students responding to old messages after discussion had enlarged, and infrequent mail reading. (MSE)

Presented is a lesson in which students learn about characteristic traits of a species and variations within a species. Background information for teaching and assessing the lesson and topics for possible class discussions are provided. An activity in which students learn about traits and variations of themselves is included. (KR)

Discusses ways to introduce poetry to college students and to have high school students discuss quotes from famous individuals concerning reading and writing. (RS)

Examines the relationships between what intermediate-grade children ask, how their questions come about, and the purpose for asking questions in reading. Finds that only with much effort did children succeed in raising questions for discussion. (RS)

Summarizes several creative strategies to increase students' awareness of, and commitment to, constructive values in a classroom setting. These simple exercises include brainstorming and reverse brainstorming, imagining consequences, analogical thinking, empathy, questioning and discussion, and problem-solving approaches. (MLH)

Using the latest newspaper as an authentic text in a language classroom can present the teacher with difficulties in advance preparation and reuse of activities. This article provides suggestions for preparing activities such as group work, information transfer grids, focus on content and language, and relation to other media. (10 references) (LB)

Describes how students wrestled with an assignment that asked them to name their heroes or heroines, compare them to "Beowulf," and defend their choices in writing and class discussion. Tells how students gained insight into their community and the ways in which people make it better. (MG)

This article reports on a reading comprehension instructional technique which uses reciprocal-like teaching formats in groups and semantic mapping to make text structures apparent. The procedure significantly affected recall of expository ideas and knowledge of comprehension strategies with 28 intermediate grade students with learning…

Explores the attempt to deal instructionally with the challenges resulting from the various uses of language and modes of discourse among students and the hope of reconciling these ways with the typical classroom language demands of schools. Shows how this challenge was faced in one classroom setting. (HB)

Discusses at-risk students' attitudes toward reading and their varying levels of response to literature. Finds that students' attitudes toward reading improved after one semester of discussion groups. Presents excerpts from classroom discussions. Discusses elements to encourage response. (RS)