Excerpts from a discussion among five applied linguistics researchers with an interest in second-language acquisition (SLA) focus on three issues: important recent advances in SLA research, transmission of research findings to teachers, and maintenance of communication between the worlds of theory and practice. (MSE)

A clinical decision-making simulation that helps students understand the relationship between psychosocial factors and medical problem-solving is described. A group of medical students and one faculty member comprise a selection committee to agree on the order in which four patients will be selected for renal dialysis. (MLW)

Faculty committees wrote educational objectives for all 23 courses in their undergraduate medical school curriculum. The objectives were used for evaluation of curriculum, student knowledge, and attitudes. (CP)

Describes a system utilizing teacher-made worksheets and guided group discussions which allows middle school students to constructively critique each other's projects. (SJL)

Criticizes the variable analytic approach to small group communication currently being used by many social science researchers and suggests some alternative ways of doing research based on a human action perspective. (JMF)

The study involving 339 third through sixth graders investigated the application of the group discussion paradigm as a vehicle to improve nonhandicapped children's attitudes toward mentally retarded children. (SBH)

Usual student seminar classes involve students presenting papers to the class. Alternatives to this approach are offered that maximize student audience involvement. The suggestions incorporate variations of sub-grouping, idea generation, discussion of important statements, and the refining, clarification, and evaluation of key statements. (JMD)

An investigation of the verbal "following behaviors" of 245 third-grade children indicated that selected role-taking groups of children chose, or were chosen by the teacher, to talk following the verbal contributions of certain role groups of children while avoiding talk following the contributions of other role groups. (Author/DS)

Describes how a fourth grade teacher used themes in children's literature to develop higher levels of reading comprehension. (TJ)

A format for a small-group teaching session is described that could be modified for any subject in a medical curriculum. The technique discussed uses subgroups and a simple recording chart that have been successful in teaching microbiology to medical students. (LBH)

Presents exercises designed to make argument and discussion easier by situating them in institutional events where argument could be expected to happen: the governmental commission, the school board meeting, the congressional hearing. Shows how these imaginary places allow for creating three role play situations for different college classes. (PA)

Presents a description and qualitative case study of three high school classrooms, in two of which the teachers actively elicited student dialog and thereby improved writing. Draws on M. Bakhtin, R. Rommetveit and Y. M. Lotman to suggest that a combination of writing and dialogue (spoken interaction) lead to more chances to learn than either…

Contains a number of short testimonials from writing educators about the value of computers. Discusses macros, key-word searching, cutting and pasting in electronic mail, online discussions, and the distance classroom. (TB)

Talks about how a teacher has changed her ideas over the course of her career and learned to grow with the times. Describes the process of professional growth and what is necessary for it to happen. (TB)

Discusses the challenge of assessing collaborative work, such as literature circles. Suggests the best way to evaluate literature circles is a legitimate performance assessment created by the students. Concludes that the rubric-creating exercise itself is a review of good reading and discussion habits. (PM)