The case under study was a staff development program devoted to methods for instructional grouping called "cooperative learning." In this case study, the rhetoric of cooperative learning for mainstreaming was tested by examining the words and actions of teachers and administrators for congruence with rhetorical devices. Three kinds of information…

Cooperative learning lessons in mathematics were instituted in 6 learning disability elementary classrooms serving a total of 47 students. Verbal rehearsal and collaboration were intended to reinforce the internalization and generalization of skills. Structured social interaction was intended to facilitate peer acceptance. Although two of the…

The Speech Communication Club at St. Cloud University (Minnesota), begun in 1981, serves as a good example of how nonperformance student organizations lead to student growth and departmental development. Results of a survey which measured the club's effectiveness indicated that students enter the organization with different goals dependent on the…

This teaching model, involving character analysis in literature, illustrates effective instruction that engages students in an interpretive problem, helps them make complex interpretations, and enables them to transform their conclusions into effective literary analysis. The introductory activity in the model is a discussion of a student…

Although collaborative learning is most commonly used in modern writing classes, an experiment in collaborative learning was conducted with a beginning drawing class at California University of Pennsylvania. Students (elementary education majors) were paired and asked to produce a single drawing of a still life. They were then asked to repeat the…

The subjects of this study were 165 teachers who participated in peer assistance workshops conducted by peer teachers recognized for their successful teaching. These teachers shared ideas on: (1) classroom/behavior management; (2) organizing instruction; (3) teaching methods for specific content; and (4) student evaluation and reporting.…

A study examined the content and form of third-, fourth-, and sixth-grade students' verbal interactions while working in cooperative groups. Teachers were asked to conduct cooperative-learning reading lessons during the observation time. A total of 32 observations of students' cooperative group work were conducted in six classrooms during regular…

This paper discusses "Guided Design," a method for teaching course content which engages students in group decision-making, where problems are solved or issues are resolved in a step-by-step process using instructions and feedbacks especially prepared to make students think for themselves about subject matter rather than depend on the…

This digest presents recent findings about effective instructional practices for classroom teachers in small schools. In terms of instruction, small schools have two characteristics: a broader scope of teacher responsibilities and more instructional levels per classroom. Teachers in small schools have the opportunity to develop the student as a…

For individuals to cooperate they must develop certain skills and understandings. Unless schools engage in specific activities that teach cooperation, students may lack the skills they need to function in an adult society. Cooperative learning has much to offer for the mathematics class. Students enjoy discussing mathematics with other students.…

This paper proposes a collaborative processing model for art education that draws upon the language and learning theories of Lev S. Vygotsky. This model is a means by which students' natural affinity for socialization and inclination to attend to their own personal agendas may be used to increase learning motivation and effectiveness. The model…

Cooperative learning aims to enhance students' on-task interactive behaviors in the classroom. Observation in Israeli elementary schools has indicated that interactive behavior of students in their learning sequence holds potential for quality cooperation and help among children, but that teachers lack the skills to structure learning tasks that…

The mission of this conference was to explore and promote the integration of experiential learning with diverse communities and settings. The 60 presentations, workshops, and preconference events included in this proceedings manual are organized under the following topics: (1) foundations; (2) urban, school, and corporate environments; (3) social…

The mission of the Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Continuing Education is to provide high-quality, applications-oriented education and training for the continuing development of professionals. The college has initiated a special project called the Athenaeum. The Athenaeum is an intellectual cooperative run by and for adults over…

Since the publication of "A Nation at Risk," curriculum leaders have been under increased pressure to make more prudent, informed decisions about allocating district resources that will directly or indirectly lead to increased student achievement. The decision-making process should include a thorough investigation of the best and most…