Discusses the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in education and summarizes three studies that demonstrated the positive effect of electronic networking on elementary and secondary students' reading and writing skills and their interest in meaningful educational activities. Highlights include knowledge construction; collaborative…

Outlines a conceptual framework for understanding individual development related to intercultural competence and prejudice reduction. Presents a model of identity formation encompassing physical, academic, social, and cultural/spiritual self. Suggests that dialog and reflection, two essential components of intrapersonal and interpersonal…

Discusses the educational needs of American Indian women, highlighting the difficulties that they encounter in traditional postsecondary education and their unique learning abilities. Suggests that the community ethos of American Indian culture needs to be transported to the classroom through the implementation of cooperative educational…

Case studies of eight exemplary schools demonstrate that language-minority students can learn the same academic curriculum as native English speakers while pursuing English literacy. Common school characteristics include a schoolwide vision of excellence, creation of a community of learners engaged in active discovery, and well-designed, carefully…

Constructivism, which holds that knowledge is created out of each individual's own experience, is recapturing researchers' attention. To constructivists, teachers are not omniscient oracles, but nutritionists providing an environment for children to grow their own knowledge. Students might learn division by planning a field trip instead of…

Describes the use of "Kid Pix 2" software by fourth grade students to develop slide-show book reports. Highlights include collaboration with education majors from Louisiana State University, changes in attitudes of the education major students and elementary students, and problems with navigation and disk space. (LRW)

Discusses the role of the international organization INTERMON in education for social development. Highlights include objectives, content, values, conflict-resolution, cooperative learning, teacher training, and the use of audiovisuals, networked telecommunications, electronic mail, and teledebates. (AEF)

A developmental model for collaborative learning at the college level, based on the notion of the development of expertise, is outlined. Five stages are described: (1) the learning of rules, techniques, and strategies; (2) applying the techniques and strategies to the particular teaching context; (3) developing competence; (4) becoming proficient;…

Investigates Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development using peer social dialogue integrated with teacher support to develop children's reading, writing, and abstract thinking in story reflection and sense of audience. Reports that students showed improvement in word recognition, in fluency, and in evaluating their own reading…

Presents the National Science Education Standards as an exceptionally well researched tool intended to assist teachers in curriculum development. Describes an activity that meets the standards and encourages students to work together. (JRH)

Specific ways in which lectures, laboratories, cooperative group learning, and examinations and grading can be used as part of a strategy to increase pharmacy student interest and involvement in basic science are outlined. The techniques focus on making the presentation of content at least as important as the content itself. (MSE)

Explains how peer scores can be used to constitute one part of students' grades on group projects. Contributions students make to a project are defined in four categories: creativity/ideas contributed, research/data collection, writing/typing/artwork, and organizing/collating. A scoring rubric for these categories is presented. (PR)

Discusses the role of cooperative education in the process of industry restructuring in Australia. The planning, design, and implementation of a "Partners in Excellence" cooperative degree program leading to a Bachelor of Manufacturing Management is outlined, cooperative learning as experiential learning is discussed, and a…

Reports on a study that explored the impact of instructor-student interaction when pairs of business statistics students used a computer spreadsheet package to perform statistical calculations. Data are reported on spreadsheet performance and use of commands, and implications for the roles of the instructor and software developer are discussed.…

Presents strategies for facilitating collaborative classroom learning (e.g., selective textual variation), noting students should be encouraged to work together in all settings. Two types of study guides can be adapted to encourage collaboration. Examination strategies include question pools, the examination bank assignment, and group essays. (SM)