In adventure education, debriefing is an art and a science. The facilitator must understand what is occurring and help people feel that they are learning for themselves. Categories of questions that move the conversation forward, explore deeper levels of understanding, and capture the "teachable moment" include open-ended, follow-up,…

Presents a method aimed at developing the ability of students to handle information, participate in group discussions, and accept and give constructive criticism. Involves synthesizing information in poster handouts and taking part in a student-centered assessment. Evaluates through an objective scoring strategy that leads to the identification of…

Documents three key strategies that the teacher used in her transitional efforts to make discussions possible in her low-achieving high school English classroom: developing an ethos of involvement and respect, using scaffolding and specific ways of phrasing questions to encourage discussion, and acknowledging and making space for the presence of…

Evidence on the effectiveness of school-based smoking restrictions on reducing pupil smoking rates is mixed. So far, the effect of such policies has only been considered using quantitative methods and "level of enforcement" has primarily been measured according to data collected from staff. This qualitative study is based on data collected during…

This contribution examines the methodological challenges involved in defining the collaborative knowledge-building processes occurring in asynchronous discussion and proposes an approach that could advance understanding of these processes. The written protocols that are available to the analyst provide an exact record of the instructional…

This study investigated changing attitudes toward reading among elementary and secondary teacher candidates participating in in-class book group discussions in an introductory language and literacy course taught by two instructors in a medium-sized state teacher education program. Qualitative methods focused on both students' weekly self-reports…

This article reports on the value of using student-generated analogies with undergraduate science students as a strategy for promoting conceptual understanding. A quantitative study was undertaken involving students in four sections of an introductory chemistry course for prospective science majors attending a four year college in British…

When I turned to asynchronous delivery of content for a recent educational research and evaluation course, I wanted to supplement threaded discussions with social interactions to better support meaningful learning and allow students to make knowledge their own. I incorporated synchronous small group discussions among peers to replace some of what…

The "Heavenly Horse" is a work of art revered for its spirit, strength, and beauty. It is a symbol of military might and political power. The size of the object suggests that it was made for an important person. Impressive as he is, this horse was not created as an art object. He was found in the tomb of an influential person. Scholars do not know…

In the spring of 1789, the first Congress faced a daunting task. Although the newly adopted Constitution provided a blueprint for the new government, Congress needed to enact legislation that would ensure a smooth transition from the Articles of Confederation and lay the groundwork for a strong national government, while simultaneously protecting…

This study examined the nature of student talk and the teacher's role during book discussions. The participants were 17 first- and second-graders with and without disabilities in an inner-city inclusion classroom. Applied conversation analysis techniques were employed to analyze two videotaped book discussions. Results indicated that…

Kathy McLellan and Tricia Suellentrop share a love of reading and a deep empathy for troubled teens, but they bring different strengths to their partnership. Suellentrop, according to McLellan, is the risk taker, the one who's "always willing to try something new and doesn't hesitate to step out there on the precipice." McLellan is the designated…

This project was designed to examine the feasibility of using a "collapsed day" to explore socio-scientific issues relating to genes and genetic engineering in secondary schools by enabling science and humanities staff to collaborate. It was believed that science staff would have expertise in promoting understanding of genetics and humanities…

Expert scientific inquiry involves the generation and use of analogies. How and when students might develop this aspect of expertise has implications for understanding how and when instruction might facilitate that development. In a study of K-8 student inquiry in physical science, we are examining cases of spontaneous analogy generation. In the…

What if we could truly engage high schools students in learning by actively involving them in research and discussion leading to concrete actions on issues that interest them? Lent describes her experiences working with student study groups composed of high school students and teachers or adult community members. Study groups differ from…