Presents several cooperative learning lessons that integrate science, reading and writing. Notes that sample lessons involve six methods of cooperative learning drawn from four prominent developers and researchers, David Johnson, Roger Johnson, Robert Slavin, and Spencer Kagan. Describes the cooperative learning method to illustrate how to use it…

States that college and university students who participate in collaborative-learning programs tend to show higher levels of achievement than do their peers in more traditional classroom settings. Focuses on methods and strategies for assessing student interaction in collaborative-learning settings and portrays verbal-interaction analysis as a…

Describes a cooperative-learning exercise to develop students' observation skills in preparation for the study of histology in a human anatomy course. (WRM)

Discusses two dimensions of equity within small-group learning--access and equitable relations--describing complex instruction (CI) as an approach that lets educators address these issues. CI teachers use cooperative learning to teach at high academic levels in diverse classrooms. The paper describes CI in action, achievement results in CI…

Describes a recent computer-supported cooperative-learning (CSCL) project called TSCL (Telematic (and IT) Supported Co-operative Learning) which builds upon distributed knowledge and constructivism. It takes the opportunity of Internet-based communication tools to allow students to participate in nonschool environments such as expert discussions,…

A review of the use of self-, peer, and co-assessment in higher education focuses on: (1) research findings on these new assessment forms; (2) ways in which these results can be integrated; and (3) resulting guidelines for educational practitioners. Concludes that use of a combination of these new assessment forms encourages students to become…

Explains a geology activity and provides information for model construction. Uses different colors to represent different rock sequences. Provides a rubric for assessment. (YDS)

Explains the phrase "What is Assessment?". Lists the principles of assessment and includes standards and goals, trust, total campus commitment, constant and continuing assessment, and incorporation of assessment research into practice and policy as the ideal components of assessment practice. Recommends the use of scoring rubrics for student…

Describes an extension of dialog journals, audience journals. States that, with the advent of e-mail, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students can send their journals to an "E-partner," and they can also make meaning by summarizing their E-partners' journal entries which are sent to both E-partner and instructor. Suggests that this…

Using sociocultural theory as a conceptual framework, this study examined selected features of student discourse of three pairs of third-semester learners of Spanish at the university level. Specifically the study investigated how these selected features, identified in an earlier research project, developed during opportunities to engage in five…

Socially assisted group learning was evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in promoting fourth-grade students' solution of complex two-step word problems. Suggests that those in the socially assisted learning condition used labeled representations in problem solving more effectively and deduced implied information earlier and more often than…

Describes how a researcher used student cooperative-learning teams to contribute test items. Discusses the questions generated by students and concludes that teachers have the flexibility to encourage students to generate and solve their own problems. Also concludes that students have the opportunity to be creative and formulate and pose questions…

Describes "Challenge of Materials," a gallery where visitors can experience a wide variety of materials in different ways. Materials include familiar structural items such as steel and glass, and new materials that can change form and color. The gallery also provides opportunities for work with schools in materials science and…

Relates the experience of sixth-grade students who created a mural of the rain forest on a school wall. Describes the process of choosing a theme, researching the theme, designing the composition, and painting the mural. Uses the team approach to foster cooperation and peer learning during the project. (DSK)

Notes that the practicum course helps students navigate the transition from theory to practice. Describes the author's experience with this program over two semesters noting the improvements made for the second semester. Presents data from student surveys regarding effectiveness of the practicum course. (SG )