Contrary to classical problem-based learning, in guided problem-based learning, the learning goals are predetermined by the instructor--on the basis of a detailed decomposition of the subject matter to be studied--to activate prior knowledge and to structure self-study and subsequent group discussion. This study investigated the effects of…

This research focuses on correlates involving civic engagement, public deliberation, and National Issues Forums. Activities involving public deliberation and a "Train the Trainer" process through National Issues Forums are explored with students at a college in the southeastern region of the United States. Results indicate that students…

A self-study is reported in which the researcher explored the possibility of using a university course on action research to promote the development of professional community, an examination of power relations, and a sense of recognition among teachers enrolled in the course of their own expertise. Approximately 20 participating teachers in each…

This guide provides a framework for study circles to use in discussing the health care crisis in the United States. The guide begins with a background section that gives an overview of the health care crisis; then it presents a two-part framework for discussion. Part 1 focuses on the ethical issues that underlie any policy decisions. It points out…

This is a first-year report of an attempt to create a tutorial community in an elementary school. The goal is a learning community of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and researchers who are expected to work together in planning and conducting instruction. The students will hopefully develop a capacity for self-directed study and…

This study investigated the effects of computer-based technologies on literature discussions between preservice teachers and eighth graders. Most participating preservice teachers were preparing to work with students in literacy development. Over two semesters, eighth graders were paired with college students taking a young adults literature…

A collaborative faculty project was something of a failure for one instructor. About a year ago, the instructor invited everyone in the department to meet in her office every third week to talk about teaching literature and composition. The immediate concern was the use of writing in three general education literature courses that had been…

The Carribean Child Development Centre conducted a 2-year research project to provide a socio-historical perspective on roles of Caribbean men within the family, and to survey and describe attitudes and behaviors of a cross-section of men in Jamaica. An 8-week series of discussions, designed for a maximum of 15 men and 15 women, was organized to…

A brief review of the literature on the various approaches which have been used to help children formulate their emerging attitudes towards reading and literature helps clarify the goal of creating lifelong readers. Samway (1991), discussing literature study circles, relates that students read the book they have selected, answer assigned…

The overall theme of the round-table discussions at a conference of the Canadian Council of Teachers of German (CCTG) was the cooperation of regional teacher associations and creation of a professional development network. An introductory section describes the project through which the round-table discussions were organized, the structure of the…

The consequences of alcohol and drug abuse on college campuses across the United States has been well documented. Designed to bring the problems related to drug and alcohol abuse into focus, this training manual is a compilation of seminars created to allow facilitators (counselors, professionals, trainers) to train students as peer educators. The…

A project was conducted to incorporate the Kettering Foundation's National Issues Forums (NIFs) into two senior citizen centers in Pennsylvania. The NIFs provide a process for sharing thoughts and opinions about areas of pressing national concern in an open exchange of all participants' opinions. An inservice training of senior center staff on…

This paper presents a study that examined the effectiveness of a proposed teaching improvement process, referred to as practice-centered inquiry, by using faculty discussion groups involving a total of 29 professors, and formal classroom research studies, one of which is reported. The study, a collaborative effort by some of the professors in…

This program guide on welfare reform raises basic questions about different beliefs that influence public policy about welfare and what the welfare system ought to achieve. Four policy approaches are offered as a framework for discussion: (1) cut welfare for the able; (2) use welfare as a tool to require recipients to become more responsible; (3)…

This report is an evaluation of the Silver Edition II Project, a program to offer library-centered humanities programming to older adults. In the program local scholars in seven geographically dispersed library systems led discussion groups made up of 20 to 25 participating older adults. This evaluation focuses on the stated goals of the project:…