Summarizes 10 major difficulties associated with ability grouping, including unfair and inaccurate student placements; the "locked-in" nature of ability grouping; undue emphasis on ability over effort; erosion of self-esteem; racial, ethnic, and income isolation; unequally distributed learning resources; illegal practices; and the need for a…

Recent British discussion paper raises issue of how children should be organized for teaching in primary classrooms. Although contrasting relative strengths and limitations of whole class and group organization, paper fails to show how teacher should move from one form of classroom organization to another. Article reviews different classroom…

Argues for the increased use of cooperative learning within student groups with regard to test review. Provides data from two research projects that support the contention that cooperative test review improves student achievement. Suggests methods for implementing cooperative test review. (HB)

Examines the characteristics of three approaches to the teaching of writing (traditional, tutorial, and group). Demonstrates how the combined use of pair work and peer feedback, features of the group approach, enables students of English as a Second Language to learn from each other and improve their writing. (HB)

Described is a pilot program designed to develop communication links between local science classrooms. The effects of the use of Sci-Link will be investigated. The proposed Sci-Link projects are described including stream acidity, raindrop size, rocket payloads, gypsy moth populations, and home energy use. (KR)

Describes a three-week project using cooperative learning groups where students address the question of the future of their Arizona community. Demonstrates how groups discussed, argued, and tried to come to consensus for developing a comprehensive community land-use proposal. (PRA)

Offers 2 perspectives of Danforth School Administrators Fellowship Program. Discusses collaborative effort to improve secondary schools' faculty performance, collegiality, and cooperation. Describes program, involving 10 Iowa district teams meeting monthly for 1 year. Facilitator and member describe respective perceptions, training, roles, and…

A study investigated the hypotheses that law students researching a problem together would learn legal research better than those working individually, and that group work during class time under teacher supervision would reduce the intimidation of manual research tools. Results and some classroom materials are presented. (MSE)

Describes an inservice teacher education project in which participant's created a newspaper that focused exclusively on Durenmatt's novel "Der Richter und Sein Henker." The project's aim was to involve participants in the work of literature while learning teaching techniques. (Contains six references.) (VWL)

In today's world, the ability to work with others is essential, and cooperative learning can be a powerful teaching strategy to enhance interpersonal skills. The article describes nine essential steps for social skills success and discusses nonverbal and verbal social skills for group work. (SM)

The effects of individual versus cooperative learning and type of reward (points for completion or performance, or none) were studied with 126 undergraduate education majors. Subjects working alone performed better on the posttest and expressed more continuing motivation. Reward type did not affect performance or motivation. (SLD)

Describes how one English teacher developed an "I-Search Project" for high school classes that integrated literary research with peer support to create a community of writers. Shows how such a project encourages collaboration both inside and outside of the English classroom. Provides student response to the project. (HB)

Describes a program of English instruction focusing on having students prepare the syllabus for a second-semester English composition course. Claims that letting students create their own course syllabus increases student investment in learning. Outlines the way one teacher carried out such a method. Includes a student-written syllabus. (HB)

Claims that students from foreign countries tend to have little knowledge or background working with American research libraries. Describes a collaborative research project aimed at making academic libraries less intimidating for these students. Argues that such a method helps all students acquire essential skills. (HB)

The Porsche model of outcome-based education in its auto technician training program was adapted by vocational instructors in Nevada. Its effectiveness derives from pretesting, teaching with demonstrations, student practice with peer coaching, performance measurement, and reteaching and retesting. (SK)