Illustrates that students can discover the impact of effective communication by studying history. Describes how students can identify the communication strategies of historical figures, whether used for good or evil, demonstrating that these figures followed guidelines for effective communication as identified by various philosophers and orators.…

Argues that traditional textbook approaches to teaching literature alienate students from literature. Describes effective alternatives in which students learn interpretive strategies as they analyze and discuss their own important values in life, and then those of characters in a story; and learn to deal with irony. Outlines writing activities…

GoodSport is an after-school program for grades 3-6 that uses traditional and nontraditional sports, adventure activities, reading, writing, and group discussion to promote character development in the areas of teamwork, perseverance, responsibility, respect, and fair play. Two sample activities involving group discussion and problem solving are…

Offers ideas for developing a Web-based course in music education, addressing such issues as the transmission of audio information, real-time communication, and testing and copyright. Provides selected resources for Web-based instruction. (CMK)

Discusses obstacles to discussion in a college class on American slavery. Observes two major problems: many white students, especially women, wanted to avoid confrontation, and many white males were defensive when there was criticism of 19th-century white males. Offers suggestions for improving the classroom atmosphere for discussion periods. (DSK)

Reports an empirical investigation that explored relationships between student perceptions and course design factors in 73 SUNY Learning Network courses in the Spring 1999 semester. Findings indicated that clarity of design, interaction with instructors, and active discussion among course participants significantly influenced students'…

Investigates how graduate students participated in online discussions over a two-week period to determine the utility of synchronous and asynchronous modes of discussion. Types and amounts of communication statements participants made in chats and threaded discussions were analyzed. Results indicate that both types of discussion are liked and…

Describes a computerized English-auction experiment that helps students to understand marginal cost and its interrelationships with supply and the efficiency of competitive markets. Explains that the English auction is in a market where there are many sellers (students) and one buyer (computer). States that this exercise offers a good introduction…

Focuses on the process of amending the U.S. Constitution and describes Article V in detail. Explores the intent of the framers of the Constitution and provides historical information on the the various amendments. Addresses proposed amendments and the failure to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Includes questions for discussion. (CMK)

Explains the importance of student teachers performing the learning tasks they assign to their students in order to understand the nature and purpose of each task and its unique demands on teachers and students. The paper recommends guiding student teachers to develop their own abilities and view their teaching roles as nurturers of their own…

Explains that many beginning teachers have a difficult time engaging students in lecture. Maintains that in order to encourage student participation teachers should hold students responsible for learning by requiring them to prepare for class and also design questions to elicit successful answers from students. Provides an extensive bibliography.…

Describes an art lesson for seventh-grade students where they learned the craft of weaving using paper as their weaving logs. Explains that in order to evaluate the activity, the students discussed their work and participated in a discussion on non-objective art and the difference between art and crafts. Provides instructions for making weavers.…

Examines how pseudonymous identification in a computer-mediated communication (CMC) context might: (1) reflect a motivation for gender-based status parity and (2) mitigate supposed gender-based communication differences associated with social interdependence. Subjects were 114 undergraduate students who participated in computer-based…

Identifies questions teachers are learning to ask themselves and each other as they move toward a negotiated, co-constructed and systematic approach that places documentation at the heart of an emergent curriculum. Discusses these questions in terms of documentation, discourse, and design, three components that define a dynamic system of learning…

Applies the depth of cognitive processing construct to a social constructivist analysis of students' collaborative knowledge-building in science. Discusses the interplay of depth of sociocognitive processing with motivational, cognitive, and discursive elements of groups' interactions and the relationship between accuracy of ideas and depth of…