Discusses the use of free conversation, especially with regard to vocabulary. Recommends group discussion in the FL, using, at the intermediate level, limited, familiar vocabulary. At a higher level, words from a special technical vocabulary may be introduced, aurally and visually. A teaching example ("Traffic") is given with thorough…

During a study of group communication, efforts were made to identify variables that distinguish statements of consensus groups from those of non-consensus groups, and to determine if and how relationships between consecutive statements differ for the 2 types of groups. Six students in each of 3 consensus and 3 non-consensus groups discussed the…

In a test of three computer models to simulate group decisions, data were used from 31 American and Austrian groups on a total of 307 trials. The task for each group was to predict a series of answers of an unknown subject on a value-orientation questionnaire, after being given a sample of his typical responses. The first model, used the mean of…

General guidelines are provided for planning and conducting study discussion groups. First, the value and the importance of discussion are asserted, followed by a consideration of how leadership, individual needs, and program content affect participation. Problems in communication, and those relating to the strategy and tactics commonly used in…

The discussion in this paper resulted from a questionnaire administered to students at a graduate seminar on Competency Based Teacher Education held at the University of Houston in 1973. The following topics are discussed: (a) the role of CBTE in society; (b) the nature of competencies; (c) individualizing and personalizing to meet student needs;…

The purposes of this study were to determine opinions and attitudes of selected Head Start trainees toward poverty, prejudice and disadvantaged families, and whether attitudes differed among trainees. The 62 subjects were trainees (ranging in age from 19 to 69 years) who attended one of three 8-week training sessions conducted by the Department of…

The Delphi technique is a method of eliciting and refining group judgments. The procedures used have three features: anonymous response, iteration and controlled feedback, and statistical group response. A series of experiments were initiated at RAND to evaluate the procedures. Upper-class and graduate students were used as subjects and general…

The first National Workshop for Community Resource Development Leaders was held in Washington, D.C., March 9-11, 1971. This report on the conference highlights the presentations of four speakers: (1) "The Road Ahead in Rural Development," by Henry L. Ahlgrens; (2) "Extension Emphasis in Rural Development," by Edwin L. Kirby; (3) "Summary of Group…

Individual students tend to benefit differently from different teaching methods; however, when little or nothing is known of the entering students' characteristics regarding learning involvement, the high school teacher would be wise to use the classroom discourse method of teaching. (JD)

Instead of presenting an introductory lecture to a training course, the trainer should neutralize any incipient teacher-pupil relationship, begin to form a class community, correct any nonproductive learning agenda that trainees may have, and encourage trainees to formulate their own incourse and postcourse objectives. (MF)

An instructional unit designed to help students accept frustration, tolerate frustrating experiences, and build coping resources is described. The unit was taught to emotionally disturbed 6th and 7th graders and included five guided discussions over two weeks. Observation of student reactions to frustration before and after instruction suggested…

Five teachers used exploratory talk as a tool for learning as they developed policy concerning the use of writing across the curriculum. Transcripts were analyzed for development of scientific concepts (learning) through increased use of specialized vocabulary (language growth). (Author/MT)

Discusses transitions to and from specific activities (i.e., free choice time, group activities, clean-up time, outside play, meals, naps, and using bathrooms) as well as children's arrivals and departures from the preschool or day care center. (CB)

Videotape analysis of teacher interaction with severely mentally handicapped students revealed that different activities and different types of organization were associated with different types of interaction between teacher and child. Children were presented with different opportunities for communicating in group and individual situations. (CL)

Considers the phenomenon of a single utterance having different illocutions at the same time, depending on the relationship between the speaker and different hearers and the differing amounts of shared knowledge among the conversation's participants. (MSE)