Examines assessment issues in connection with peer learning at the college level and suggests ways in which the benefits of this approach can be maintained while still meeting a course's formal assessment requirements. Discusses the use of group assessment, peer feedback, self-assessment, assessment of participation, and negotiated assessment. (DB)

A study investigated behaviors, interactions, and learning outcomes of 22 children with learning disabilities who participated in structured and unstructured group activities. Children in the structured groups were more involved in group activities, provided more directions and help to others, and obtained a significantly higher performance on a…

Suggests that teachers could write problems to suit student populations in their schools and in the process of doing so encourage discussion, reflection, and writing by their students on mathematical language. Presents a series of games for the creation of equations for Year 7 students. (Contains 13 references.) (ASK)

Describes the project-based curriculum structure at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) which aims at giving students a global perspective and the skills to work collaboratively across disciplinary borders. Focuses on one of three required project experiences, integrating technical knowledge with humanities and social sciences, which…

Examines the historical background of mastery learning, discussing computer assisted instruction (CAI), cooperative learning, and constructivist learning as related to mastery learning. CAI is described as a tool to help teachers when using mastery learning. Comparisons between cooperative and mastery learning are made, and support for research…

Argues that British students of language study at A level need opportunities to build a broad foundation for exploring language experience, familiar issues and accessible concepts using practical activities and informal discussion if they are to develop their understanding of the more formal and systematic aspects of language theory. (SC)

A study that compared two instructional strategies for teaching reading comprehension to fourth-grade students found no differences between a peer-assisted procedure involving 25 students working in dyads to ask and answer questions and a teacher-assisted procedure involving 23 students working alone to develop questions followed by class…

Argues that there are potential benefits in incorporating computer-based text analyses into methods for researching talk and educational activity in classrooms. Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of some existing approaches to the study of talk and collaborative activity and suggests ways that computer-based analysis of transcribed talk can…

The prevalence, conceptualization, and form of cooperative learning used by elementary school teachers are examined. Ninety-three percent of teachers (n=85) from six elementary schools in two districts indicated that they used cooperative learning. However, few were using recognized forms of this practice when criteria from the research literature…

Investigates possibilities for and manifestations of collaborative work with pairs of kindergarten students as they worked on tasks designed to promote early number development. Students generated four strategies, and three themes emerged from the analysis of the cooperative solutions. Contains 34 references. (Author/ASK)

In an accounting class in which 25% of grades were derived from group work, students completed peer evaluations. Regression analyses revealed that accounting majors and students with higher grade point averages received higher peer evaluations. Higher group homework and class participation grades were associated with higher peer evaluations. (SK)

Describes research into the operation of peer learning communities on the MSc course in Change Agent Skills and Strategies at the University of Surrey. Argues for acknowledgment of significant qualitative differences in current usage of the term "learning community" in relation to higher education courses. Indicates educational…

Discusses educators' difficulty with interactive online assessment even though educational technology has a broad use in secondary and higher education instruction. Describes a program that enables instructors to create their own online assessment with complete control over the content and structure of questions. (Contains 23 references.) (YDS)

This article describes how a variety of peer-mediated instruction and intervention might assist teachers in meeting the needs of students with mild disabilities in inclusive classrooms. The needs of these students, peer-teaching methods such as class wide student tutoring teams and Numbered Heads Together, and future research directions are…

Investigates out-of-class academic collaboration among students at a polytechnic in Singapore as they worked on collaborative assignments. Data were collected via a questionnaire completed by 232 students, interviews were conducted with 10 lecturers, observations were made of eight student groups as they collaborated on teacher-required work…