Describing an innovative classroom technique, which seeks to place students in small interactive groups rather than in large groups around a teacher, this study provides guidelines for making cooperation and mutual trust a valuable and necessary by-product of education. The technique prescribes that each child be given a part of a topic to study,…

Described are the camps, competitions, and tests of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad. International competition, local exams, participating high schools, and national exams are highlighted. A summary of test results from the 1988 national examinations are presented. (CW)

Part of the Australian "Reading Around Series," this document offers a set of guidelines for fostering cooperative learning in a language arts classroom. The problems with competitive and/or individual learning, and the reasoning behind cooperative learning, are presented in the first section of the document. The second section outlines…

Presents eight techniques for teaching undergraduate mathematics whose main aims are (1) learning how to pose problems in an easier and more attractive form; (2) fostering usage of mathematical symbolism; and (3) checking the level of comprehension of the principal ideas. Examples illustrate each technique. (Author/MDH)

Describes the team selection process and the organization of the mathematics component of the Environmental Studies Academic Pentathlon. The mathematics component consisted of environmental research, research methodology, and statistics. Groups submitted papers on seven environmental issues, and individuals designed and reported research studies…

A high school biology teacher studied the use of both competitive and noncompetitive games in classroom learning. Students were surveyed to find out how they felt about the games and what they learned from them. Results indicated that games helped students improve self-esteem, peer relationships, and learning. Competition provided motivation but…

On October 20, 2008, the New Media Consortium announced the release of a white paper produced in conjunction with the Economist Magazine and in collaboration with Apple, Inc. This paper reports the results of a study of nearly 300 CIOs and technology leaders inside and outside of education to gain deeper insight into the wider impact of technology…

There has been a large amount of research on the relative effects of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic learning on achievement and productivity. This paper reports a study designed to determine the effect of cooperative learning strategies on mathematics achievement of 7th graders. Based on school records indicating whether a student…

The Jasper Challenge Series of Vanderbilt University (Tennessee) has been used in conjunction with the university's videodisk problem-solving series, "The Adventures of Jasper Woodbury," to provide a teleconference-based performance arena that allows students and teachers to assess the degree to which they are learning to solve the kinds…

The current situation of foreign language education at all educational levels in the United States, is examined with emphasis on new developments in instruction, testing, and program design. In a section titled "The Foreign Language Crisis," the combination of declining foreign language enrollment and increasing need for language skills…

Describes the revamping of a high school physics course in which students are challenged by open-ended questions, assignments outside the classroom, guest speakers, a physics bowl and physics olympics. Reports on the increased enrollment in the course and the results of the students' test performance. (TW)

Described are the use of case-method teaching, educational competitions, and interactive computer-graphic instructional software to teach structural engineering concepts at the freshman level. Details of the instructional software used and the bridge competition are provided. (CW)

Three groups of secondary school teachers received different types of training with regard to teaching at-risk students. Teachers who learned techniques of experiential cooperative gaming for use with at-risk students demonstrated an increase in self-confidence in dealing with at-risk students, while teachers who received only information…

Contends that an obsession for competition has permeated all aspects of society, including the artistic environment. Maintains that competition works against creativity and individual development. Recommends eliminating music contests and other competitive practices at the school and college levels. (CFR)

The president of a vastly profitable virtual education corporation asserted that customers flock to him, not for an education, but for the material comforts that an education provides. Compelled by technology and supported by the World Trade Organization, such huge credentialing agencies employ lowpaid contractors to dish out homogenized info…