This guide is intended for individuals and groups who are interested in developing resource material for highly participatory, small, democratic adult discussion groups that are based soundly on adult learning principles. Suggestions are provided for preparing learning circle material that will be balanced, authoritative, and help people in…

Describes a constructivist teaching exercise consisting of a group of teachers involved in regular instructional conversations. Raises issues related to conceptualizing frameworks for teaching and developing new teacher assessments, arguing that new assessments should reflect a comprehensive view of teaching based on a broad continuum of teaching…

Two teachers participating in an online study group provided the foci for in-depth case studies. Transcripts of conversations they had with colleagues about issues related to reform-oriented pedagogy were analyzed from both acquisition and participation perspectives on learning. Both teachers exhibited mainly marginal changes to their pedagogical…

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of a cognitive computer tool by undergraduate calculus students as they worked cooperatively on mathematical tasks. Specific attention was given to levels of cognitive demand in which the students were engaged as they completed in-class labs with the assistance of MathCAD. Participants were assigned…

Teacher presence plays a significant role in supporting student learning in online environments. Research shows that teacher presence corresponds to student satisfaction and perceived learning in online courses. However, the teacher needs to restrain his/her presence in student-centered online discussions to promote student voice. This paper…

A 5-year longitudinal study of the implementation of an affective curriculum in a school for gifted children, in the form of weekly development-oriented, teacher-led small-group discussions for all students in Grades 5 through 8, found that initial resistance changed to receptivity and gains over time. Analysis of Likert-type responses and brief…

This collaborative research project sought to determine the attributes, skills and expertise/knowledge needed by distance language teachers. The first phase of the project explored tutor perspectives using discussion groups, questionnaires, interviews and a yoked-subject technique. Statements and categories of expertise were identified, elaborated…

This study investigated the effect of time on the development of a community of inquiry by examining an online course offered over two different time periods. The study was guided by the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, "The Internet and Higher Education" 2000; 2(2-3): 87-105). The focus was on a graduate level…

This paper discusses the silences that arise when female educational administrators reflect on their practices during most public discussions, seminars, and lectures. The term "silence" refers to the situation in which people who perceive themselves as less powerful than those from the dominant culture (that is, women and minorities) tend to not…

This study sought to determine the effect of four different structured group decision-making techniques in an undergraduate business communication course on the quality of a written assignment and on student reaction to the decision-making technique. The effects of gender, age, and academic intellectual ability were also investigated. The four…

This study investigated the use of computer mediated communication (CMC) to increase the cognitive level of student discourse by allowing students to reflect on difficult concepts on an as needed basis. The role of electronic mail (e-mail) interaction in producing a positive group feeling and closer personal relationships is also examined. Field…

The University of Alabama is one of seven schools participating in the Foundation Coalition, a National Science Foundation-sponsored partnership looking at educational reform within the undergraduate engineering curriculum. Participants incorporate curriculum integration, human-interface development (active and cooperative learning), and…

Case study methodology is used to explore the progress of one cohort of graduate students at Bank Street College of Education (New York). The portfolio process requires students to: (1) identify and discuss the artifacts that they find most significant in their personal and professional development; (2) identify connections between and among…

The 16 papers in this proceedings describe strategies and practices used in undergraduate psychology courses at two- and four-year colleges. The following presentations are included: (1) "Using the IDEAL Problem Solving Method in Groups," by R. Scott Smith; (2) "The Soul of Active Learning: Connecting Psychology and Faith," by…

In 1987, a sophomore level interdisciplinary Ethics and Values (EV) core course was implemented at Utah Valley Community College in Orem, serving as the humanities core among the liberal education requirements, a requirement for business students, a vital force in the nursing program, and a means to enrich the trade and technology courses. The…