The authors describe a three day symposium held on death. Several movies concerning death were presented. Various people from the community talked about their experience with death and extensive workshop discussions concluded the symposium. All participants indicated that they had benefited from the symposium. (SE)

Presents ideas for teaching basic skills. Includes strategies for teaching about human rights, directions for making an adding machine to use in addition and subtraction drill, activities for developing effective discussion skills, and suggestions for teaching place-name geography. (JMB)

This study was undertaken to develop an affective, small-group experience for helping children cope with death and to investigate the effectiveness of the experience in reducing children's anxieties about death. The generally positive results suggest that affective death education experiences such as this one should be made available to children.…

Tests the assumption that the aspects of a group's behavior that lead to judgments of quality probably are equally important and assesses the theoretical import of a discovery indicating differences in the relative impact of different variables on perceptions of the quality of decision making discussions. (MH)

This article describes a three-hour group meeting in which an orientation session is combined with a selection interview for applicants to a counselor education program. The faculty members give information about the program and the university. There is a group discussion period and then individual interviews. (Author/JEL)

The author found that college students felt that a mid-quarter course evaluation caused some changes in their courses if the instructor conducted discussions of the evaluation results. (ED.)

This paper focuses on how the sociological perspective can make significant contributions in providing a meaningful conceptual framework for analyzing self concept changes. Insight in explaining why only certain kinds of limited changes typically occur among sensitivity group participants is presented. (Author)

Discusses how teachers can plan time for talking with their students. The techniques proposed are circle time, where the students sit in a circle around the teacher and talk about reading, and individual interviews, where teachers converse one-on-one for 5 to 10 minutes with students. (SKC)

Describes a writing assignment designed to aid students' perception of audience, purpose, format, vocabulary, pertinent information, and peer editing. Establishes a framework for both independent student research and group work and revision. Encourages students to establish a rapport with groups to evaluate the writing's content, presentation,…

Compared conversations of 101 two-hour meetings of long-term mothers' discussion groups, in informal and formal settings, regarding topics discussed and frequency of nonroutine conversation. Found discussion of parent and child topics decreased throughout the year in both settings, while conversations related to income, family, and self increased.…

Presents two-phase group process to be used to develop self-efficacy in minority youth, which involves helping minority students to develop realistic educational and precareer goals through group supported analysis of individual strengths, weaknesses, resources, and roadblocks to success. Discusses major components of modeling, role playing, and…

The superintendent of the Marlington Local School District (Ohio) outlines a program they have developed that encourages communication among staff, teachers, and administrators. The superintendent leads discussion groups that offer a chance to exchange views and air concerns that result in better communication patterns. (MD)

Presents two studies of the influence of group size, prior acquaintance, and gender composition on talking and silence in decision making groups (N=157). Results suggested that friends talked more than strangers, and leaders talked more than nonleaders. Group differences were reflected more dramatically in patterns of silence. (JAC)

Discusses how educational philosopher Joseph Schwab's conception of theory applies to curriculum development. Subtopics include the relationship of theory to practice; four universal components of education and their relationships; the curriculum development group, whose composition reflects the four components; and goal-directed versus…

Provides a worksheet and summary sheet for use in facilitating the sharing of experiences, expertise, techniques, and skills among a group of approximately 15 people interested in environmental activism. Describes how to organize the group and what procedures to use to achieve recommended goals. (BC)