College faculty (n=25) attended a lecture on cooperative learning and participated in a cooperative learning exercise. They perceived cooperative learning as a positive influence on classroom goodwill and student learning and were uncertain that it would increase motivation. They performed significantly better on a test following the exercise than…

Examines the effects of cooperative homework on mathematics achievement, taking into account team characteristics. Results showed that three-member teams high in ability seem preferable in organizing cooperative learning for mathematics homework. Middle- and low-achievers all benefited from cooperative mathematics homework, whereas high achievers…

Cooperative-learning activities were conducted by 215 business students in randomly assigned small groups. Scores on individual minitests and exams sorted participants into low, middle, and high achievers. Based on the ratio of minitest to exam scores, low achievers benefited most from cooperative learning. (SK)

Suggests that a caring community has an "ethic of care" that works to develop students who will become empathetic adults and transport a caring mission beyond the walls of the school into their communities. Discusses establishing powerful policies for equity, empowering groups, teaching caring in classrooms, caring for students, and…

Ideas that resulted from reading Jean LeLoup and Robert Ponterio's tele-collaborative projects, Monsters.com, are discussed. (Author/VWL)

Two sections of an accounting course for college seniors used team learning (n=63) and two sections used traditional methods (n=66). Midterm scores did not differ significantly, but the traditional sections scored significantly better on the final exam than did the team learning sections. (SK)

Describes the model-revising problem-solving strategies of two groups of students (one successful, one unsuccessful) as they worked in a genetics course to revise Mendel's simple dominance model to explain the inheritance of a trait expressed in any of four variations. Finds differences in the groups' abilities to recognize anomalous data, use…

Introduces the Living Machine at Darrow School which is an ecological design for wastewater treatment. Uses the facility as an interdisciplinary curriculum component. (YDS)

Advocates revising theatre studies and theatre pedagogy to engage students in critical and creative thinking. Suggests that theatre studies is ideally positioned to incorporate student-centered learning. Proposes that theatre classes should emphasize ensemble learning and collaboration; address student concerns; and reflect practical work outside…

Describes modules on Social Security and Medicare for gerontology policy courses. Discusses collaborative exercises in which students explore Internet resources on Social Security and health care finance, identity major concerns about reforms, and enact scenarios about retirees with varying degrees of income and health care security. (Contains 33…

In this article it is argued that peers have the potential to provide contexts for learning that can have a profound impact on the development of students' academic enablers. Describes ways in which peer collaborative contexts can promote academic engagement as well as provide a supportive structure for the development of specific problem-solving…

Asserting that in-class small group work often falters when students report out their work, describes 11 techniques for ending group work and evaluates their relative merits based on efficiency, accountability for individual students, complete sharing of information, and student practice in articulating what they learned. (EV)

The issue of whether cooperative learning benefits gifted students needs to be settled separately from tracking considerations. This article examines four misconceptions about cooperative learning and gifted students to help resolve the conflict. An approach that works for average and below-average achievers can also benefit high achievers.…

Students need to learn how to work successfully alone as well as in competition and cooperation with others. The cooperative learning strategy is little used but has great potential for home economics classrooms. (SK)

Summarizes one expert's structural approach to cooperative learning, including its positive effects on social behavior and race relations. Structural techniques such as "numbered heads together" help foster both positive interdependence and individual accountability. The conventional individualistic orientation can be very adaptive, but is also…