Presents a content analysis of PUBYAC, an electronic discussion list for Children and Young Adult Services in Public Libraries. Information is provided on the different themes and topics that appear in the list, the lifespan and liveliness of specific discussions, percentage of active participants, and distribution of messages by participant. (AEF)

A study investigated the effectiveness of incorporating discussion groups and problem solving in a first-year pharmaceutical dosage-forms course. Students responded positively to the group discussions focusing on problem solving and the discussion summaries, which demonstrated the diversity of approaches to problem solving and focused their…

Investigates the effects of implementing individual and small-group learning structures with a computer simulation in college accounting. Results indicate students working alone expressed significantly more continuing motivation for their learning structure than did partnered students; students using extensive small-group structure exhibited…

Applies results from field and laboratory studies about business usage of electronic meeting systems (EMS) to the classroom setting. Argues that it transforms the classroom from a traditional instructor-centered environment to a student-centered environment in which students participate, participate more equally, and report a highly satisfying…

Contends that poetry is a particularly useful and engaging vehicle for revealing the complexities of a historical moment. Outlines three exercises on poetry and history designed as adjunct activities that may be used with the specified historical periods. Focuses on the experiences of African Americans. Includes three handouts with reading…

Required summer reading for incoming college freshmen commonly has themes of self-discovery, travel, and learning about other cultures that help students prepare for college life and challenge their belief systems. Some colleges follow up the readings with special discussion programs. (MSE)

Explores how teachers can support English-language learners in learning mathematics. Uses discourse perspective to analyze participation in mathematical discussions. Examines a lesson from a third-grade mathematics discussion of the geometric shapes of a tangram puzzle. Contains 20 references. (ASK)

Describes the patterns of interpersonal interactions relating to group development in an asynchronous computer conferencing-based graduate course. Results suggest that people engaged in such collaboration have similar interpersonal issues, at comparable stages and proportions, as reported for face-to-face groups. (Author/AEF)

Explores and problematizes the author's colleague's teaching performance, using the colleague's own performance theory and an Initiation-Reply-Evaluation (IRE) framework of pedagogical principles. Reconsiders the author's own assumptions about IRE and teaching. Finds the colleague's teaching to be a model of what political struggle should enable:…

Reports on a study of undergraduates at the University of Strathclyde (Scotland) that was designed to explore computer support for peer-based learning in methodology tutorials. Describes software that was developed to organize group discussion and discusses student ratings of their reactions to the software and to the tutorial sessions. (Contains…

Describes an activity in which fourth grade students created a three-dimensional representation of Vincent Van Gogh's room in Arles (France). Expounds that the students had to invent their own strategies for three-dimensional construction and two-dimensional embellishment. Provides directions for creating the room and bed. (CMK)

Gauges inclusion of diversity issues and discussion within journalism and mass communication classes from students' perspectives. Finds instructors at nonaccredited programs scored better on every diversity variable; women instructors were far more likely to bring diversity issues into the classroom; part-time instructors did best on the diversity…

Offers a variety of alternative techniques for generating effective discussion of ethics, and values case studies in the college classroom. Some techniques help increase the case study's impact by use of audiovisual aids, and others, such as staged readings, feature ease of preparation and presentation. Seventeen innovative variations are…

Discusses the basis of a classification scheme for types of case studies. Four major classification headings are identified: (1) individual assignment; (2) lecture; (3) discussion; and (4) small group activities. Describes each heading from the point of view of several teaching methods. (DDR)

Uses excerpts from fourth graders' literary discussion to describe literary language and reading strategies these students use to analyze and talk about literature and to generate meaning in response to literary texts. Rethinks the nature of literary discussions and outlines the importance of these literary discussions. Lists seven characteristics…