A study of large group language instruction in Nigeria draws on experiences of 33 teachers providing remedial English second language instruction in Nigerian universities. The report presents: teacher experiences and perceptions of class size (often over 100); a questionnaire used to investigate practices in and attitudes toward large classes;…

The reprint of a 1984 article on language teaching for communicative competence focuses on the use of small group communicative activities. The benefits and advantages of small group (two to six participants) communications activities are outlined, including the increased opportunities for speaking, less intimidating context, retention of…

A team-oriented approach is replacing the traditional management style in today's organizations. Because team management skills differ, they require different teaching methods. This paper describes an administrator education course designed to develop team management skills from an applied and behavioral viewpoint. Students participate in…

Active student involvement in the educational psychology classroom through project-based learning promotes student growth toward autonomy and academic success. Guidelines for teaching through project-based learning are as follows: (1) examining your own educational philosophy; (2) allowing students the freedom to proceed as they best function; (3)…

Changing student demographics in higher education, especially increased numbers of older and/or working students, have inspired experimentation with a variety of class scheduling and degree program formats. This study investigated two such formats: (1) cohort programs (requiring students to take all or nearly all courses together toward a degree)…

In successfully establishing and having students complete group tasks within a cooperative learning framework, 14 essential elements must be present. The elements necessary for cooperative learning are: (1) a clear set of specific student learning outcome objectives; (2) all students in the group accept the targeted outcome; (3) clear and complete…

This study sought to examine the group dynamics of children working and learning collaboratively on a computer-based instructional writing task. Standard 3 and 4 children at two urban primary schools in the Dunedin area of New Zealand were assigned the task of producing illustrated interactive stories using the "Twist-a-plot" program.…

The inclusion of talk, written language, and body language are critically important in primary classrooms. Although reading and writing may be regarded as cognitive activities, they are embedded in a social/cultural milieu, and the practice of mechanical decoding as a necessary precedent to real reading is not pedagogically sound. A whole class…

Instructional materials are presented for teachers working with classes of adult migrants at technical institutes, high schools, or community centers in New Zealand. The materials are planned to be used in group training sessions, and the handbook includes suggestions for discussions, group tasks, and individual work. The handbook may be used for…

A literature search and survey of 259 Ohio State University faculty addressed advantages and disadvantages of large enrollment classes as well as factors in deciding appropriate class size. Results of both efforts found that the advantages of large classes included lowering of instructor costs, efficient use of faculty time and faculty talent,…

This project sought to explore the educational potential of three models of a University of Indiana computer conferencing technology in facilitating collaborative learning and enhancing social interaction in instructional contexts that provide limited face-to-face contact among the students. The study examined each of the three models of computer…

A description of a teaching method which encourages student participation through small discussion groups is offered along with a sample group discussion guide and worksheet. The student group analysis technique is presented as a structured, competency-based method in which small groups of students cooperatively arrive at answers to a worksheet.…

A privately funded project that placed reading aides in the first three grades of the public schools was initiated in a rural county of Mississippi. The program provided a paraprofessional assistant reading instructor who worked under the direction of a classroom teacher to strengthen and enrich children's work in small groups or in an educational…

This practical reference guide for college faculty who teach large classes is presented, based on a workshop on improving teaching and learning in large classes. The workshop involved weekly meetings for the academic year, 1981-82, at Colorado State University. The following problems of teaching and learning in large classes were identified: (1)…

Cooperative group learning involves organizing students in small heterogeneous groups to work on academic assignments. This paper reports a staff development project to implement cooperative group learning for 417 general education middle school and junior high school students, including 41 special education students. To impart cooperative…