Discussion-based teaching has long been recognized as a way to promote civic engagement. However, increasing the amount and quality of student talk in social studies classrooms has proven very difficult in practice. This article's purpose is to show how teachers can design a discussion to increase student involvement. A well-designed discussion…

Concept cartoons are cognitive drawings or "visual disagreements" that use a cartoon-style design to present mathematical conversations inside speech bubbles. The viewpoints portrayed are all different and it is this difference that acts as a catalyst for further conversations, as learners talk together to discuss their thinking. They make…

Currently there is a scarcity of information in the art education literature about purchasing art. This article examines how art acquires economic and social value, as well as how consumers make decisions when purchasing a piece of art. Where does an art student, or the general public learn about buying art? How much, if any, of this process is…

Students' learning about the nature of science (NOS) consists of two related aspects that include their understandings of and ability to apply science processes, and their beliefs about NOS. To help students develop such understandings, the New Society activity gets them talking to each other about science, using the language of science such as…

This article explores the use of classroom video as a tool for fostering productive discussions about teaching and learning. The setting for our research is a 2-year mathematics professional development program, based on the Problem-Solving Cycle model. This model relies on video from the teachers' own classrooms and emphasizes creating a…

A learning circle is an informal, co-operative way of learning that is based on natural patterns of human interaction. Learning circles use learning materials to catalyze discussion. This book was designed under the assumption that these materials will most often be television programs with supporting print material. The first section, "What…

The basis for group discussion in an ESL class is learning English; requisites are interesting topics and stimulating questions. The authors suggest procedures to follow with background information and questioning to direct a lively and educational discussion. (CK)

Research sought to develop and evaluate a sound film-discussion technique for training junior officers in military leadership. The modified course aimed to give students the opportunity to solve realistic problems. Ten films were produced depicting typical problems officers encounter and classes receiving training were divided into small groups to…

This paper describes the frustration with the lack student involvement in classroom discussions regarding significant issues of the California State History Social Science Standards, specifically on politics and media. The initial use of a discussion board produced disappointing results. Very few students participated and their responses did not…

This booklet is a practical tool designed to help bring about small-group discussions between religious congregations. (Study circles are democratic, small-group discussions in which citizens share their experiences, analyze the problems in their communities, and come up with ideas on how to resolve them.) The guide is organized in two parts. The…

A teacher seminar focusing on children's thinking is reviewed. The seminar operates in teachers' homes and emphasizes group discussion and exchange of experiences. (DS)

The use of literature offers one way of achieving some distance from the disturbing subject of sexual identity, enabling a group to deal with the topic with some degree of dispassion, and facilitating open and productive communication between men and women. (Author)

Distinguishes between explicative, formative, and exploratory rational discourse in both value-free and value-laden teacher-student discussions. Exemplifies implications and indications for the use of each. (AL)

Described and discussed is a teaching aid for use in small group communication which enalbes the instructor to provide a student with immediate feedback without interrupting the discussion in progress. (LS)