Presents the results of an experiment that examined the extent to which a single provocative incident can exacerbate negative feelings toward a group as a whole. After hearing an audiotaped interview where a Latvian student criticized U.S. college students, the U.S. students responded differently to slides showing Latvians. (MJP)

A study investigated electronic mail use in three groups of freshman biology students: learning team members with laptop computers and e-mail support provided; learning team members without personal computers but with e-mail support; and students not in learning teams, with no personal computers. Results indicate e-mail use promoted cohesiveness…

Examines a model for measuring children's verbal interactions in small heterogeneous or homogeneous cooperative groups using computers. Considers research design, type of task, and data collection and analysis. Concludes that a model incorporating cognitively oriented and socially oriented talk will expand understanding of the nature of children's…

Describes four social styles (amiable, analytical, driver, and expressive) and strengths and weaknesses associated with each. Suggests that administrative team building can be enhanced by considering individual styles. Discusses the importance of style flex, or interacting within others' comfort zones without compromising one's own style. A social…

Reports a study examining the use of group activities in 10 randomly selected English-language teaching coursebooks published since 1990. Results are discussed in light of theory and research on cooperative learning; task-based language teaching; and the roles of learners, teachers, and coursebooks. (26 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses a study revealing that experienced language teachers of English as a Second Language perceive that it is important to develop and maintain a positive whole-group feeling among their students. Identifies relevant areas in the field of social psychology and discusses eight facets of the group development process in language classes. (Six…

Compares the work of two advisory committees: the Sixth Scottish Advisory Council on Education which produced the 1947 report, "Secondary Education," and the Committee Appointed to Survey Secondary Education in New South Wales (Australia), which produced the "Wyndham Report" in 1957. Concludes that the committee's relationship…

Argues that focusing on perceptual learning styles builds a self-awareness that serves students well because, the more they know about their learning styles, the easier it is to apply that knowledge to learning. The article points out that this process builds classroom community and provides students with opportunities to practice their writing…

Describes an inservice training project designed to raise trainees' awareness, through the analysis of transcriptions of teaching sequences, of the degree of communicativeness in their classroom interactions. Findings indicate an increasing awareness by trainees of their noncommunicative ritualized teaching behaviors, an awareness leading to…

Discusses research findings in relation to oral communication tasks in English. The article concludes that, although direct linkage between task type, language output, and language acquisition has not been established, informed pedagogic choices can be made using the concepts of control of information and communication goal. (22 references)…

Examines the extent to which foreign language use should play a prominent part in a course. The article discusses subject knowledge; factors affecting students' language skills; course objectives, structure and content; student reaction to questions about tutor input and the topics appropriate for teaching in the foreign language; and perceived…

A White Australian professor of a class on Indigenous women's dance has her Aboriginal sister-in-law conduct workshops on Indigenous dance. The classroom dynamics resulting from the complex power relationships (teacher as White woman, Aboriginal family member, and students) disturbs Western paradigms. The responsibility of "safely…

Analyzes how three university teachers of English as a Second Language answered student' requests for help in understanding unknown vocabulary items during lessons mediated via a task-based, small group methodology. Notes that teachers tended to answer learners' referential questions with display questions of their own. (68 references) (Author/CK)

Explores a discussion in a bilingual education class of Haitian students where a non-teacher-directed discussion format and an emphasis on the students' own questions encourage the use of the students' everyday ways of talking and exploring ideas. The article's analysis of a discussion shows what and how the students are learning in this context.…

Custom mapping, an experiential learning strategy used in adventure education, provides a general metaphoric activity and then requires the group to customize it into their own "meta-map." This approach encourages collaboration, gives the group a high degree of autonomy in developing creative solutions, and has the potential to generate…