Describes the use of leaderless group discussions and peer assessment in undergraduate classes to develop teamwork skills and the capacity for independent thought and action students will need on the job. (SK)

Explains what should not be done in a classroom while teaching. Provides a list of 'don'ts' for teachers. (YDS)

States that although Internet "gurus" advocate that users refrain from "flaming," in fact, flaming permeates the Internet. Explores the nature of flaming in its characteristics and forms as seen in academic discussion groups. Argues that flaming educates the ignorant, tames the uncouth, and promotes effective communication. (PA)

Describes and discusses a combinatorics exploration occurring in a recent course to help characterize the kind of learning communities to establish with students. (Author/MKR)

Discusses the evolution of a method for engaging students in the study of abstract algebra and enhancing their depth of understanding. Emphasizes the impact of oral activities on student learning. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/ASK)

Notes that email lists have become a popular way for people with similar interests to communicate. Discusses the JEAHELP email list, a private, unmoderated list owned by Candace Perkins Bowen, a past president of the Journalism Education Association. Discuses things to think about before sending a message to an email distribution list. (RS)

Offers experiences with collaborative book discussions that stemmed from literature circles or communities of book talkers. Shows what collaboration looks like when discussants come together around a book as in the Book Club approach. Illustrates how teachers can lead students to apply what is learned in literature to their own lives, both inside…

Suggests that pictures offer equality of access to texts for all children, and provide an effective medium for promoting discussion and reflection. Finds that children are able to develop skills of metacognition through talking about a pictorial text--children as young as six are able to demonstrate their understandings of the reading process. (RS)

Have you ever been harassed on the Internet? If so, you're not alone. The three most visible organizations that deal with cyberstalking and similar Internet issues receive about 30,000 complaints a year, according to Jayne Hitchcock, the president of one of them. And this number is related to adult crimes, not those directed toward children, says…

As the end of the school year draws near, children may become disruptive or exhibit anxiety and excitement due to the anticipation they feel about transitioning from their present class to the next. This paper offers suggestions on how to use group time discussions to acknowledge the children's feelings and to encourage them to share what they are…

Current recommendations for teaching increasingly call for meaningmaking and discussion (Walker, 1996). However, new teachers are seldom given instruction or guidelines for creating an environment that nurtures or encourages dialogue or discussion that is not teacher-centered (Milbrandt, 2002). Most art teachers are familiar with questioning…

The one feature that most distinguishes the Internet from any previous communications medium is its interactivity. The Net is a two-way street. One gives, and one receives. Savvy organizations and individuals have long recognized this, making it easy for people to contact them and diligently respond to e-mail. Organizations on the vanguard have…

The value of an academic conference lies in its ability to engage attendees in ongoing scholarly conversations. Such engagement depends on presentations that are intellectually sound and effectively delivered, but it also requires thoughtful participation by discussants, session chairs, and audience members. Shared understanding of the…

Communities are telling inspiring stories about what happens when they use public dialogue and action to involve large numbers of citizens--with the greatest diversity possible--in a search for common ground to resolve tough issues like race, community police relations, and education reform. These efforts, often called "study circles," are…

The aim of this study is to investigate what is reciprocal understanding in virtual web-based interaction and what does it consist of. The context of this study was an international web-based pre-service teacher education (N=116) course. The study is based on an idea of shared cognition and reciprocal understanding, in particular. It is assumed…