Describes a project within an early childhood multicultural teacher education program that examined what makes educational environments conducive to discussing culturally sensitive issues. Diverse students participated in two discussions, created guidelines, and completed interviews and questionnaires. Students and the instructor stressed the…

Considers how the "Readers Are Survivors" program encourages students to become lifelong readers, and focuses on the value of providing families with a way to actually communicate about something other than homework, chores, and curfews. Presents a description of what has evolved over the past three years in this program. Suggests that…

Adult day care center incorporated feelings group into daily program, based on Yalom's focus group model. Group discussion encourages communication, understanding, and trust, and buffers the effects of physical and emotional losses sustained by participants. Anticipated outcomes include increased self-esteem, decreased loneliness, and regained…

Describes how gender is integrated into a classical social theory course by including a female theorist in the reading assignments and using "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood as the basis for class discussion. Reviews the course objectives and readings; describes the process of the class discussions; and provides student…

Argues that writing students can be their own best critics, if teachers allow them to be. Describes a class in which students were assigned to write and discuss commentaries of their work. Explains that the procedure helps student and teacher alike to identify writing problems. (SG)

Evaluates how simulations of varying complexity are used for various purposes in the process of management development. Explains the theoretical rationale for the use of simulations as research tools to study managerial behavior, as assessment devices, and as learning experiences. Evaluates the appropriateness of using simulations in management…

Describes dilemma discussion approach used in 10-session program, based largely on cognitive-developmental theory, that is aimed at helping middle school students progress in their reasoning about using drugs. Ways in which the program provides students with opportunities to examine their current reasoning on drug use, consider peer perspectives,…

Argues that cooperative learning activities such as small group activities are important in social studies classes because they enhance text comprehension, nurture interaction skills, develop democratic behavior, and actively involve the students. (RS)

Research from social psychology on the effects of group discussion and of exposure to the opinions of other group members on the decisions groups make is reviewed. The pertinence of this research to standard-setting practices is considered, and the implications for the design of standard-setting procedures are explored. (SLD)

Suggests ways the U.S. Founding Fathers went about the task of interpreting the Constitution. Discusses literalism, arguments from history concerning original intent, moral reasoning, and the concept of precedent as interpretive techniques used by the founders. Sees this variety of techniques as the basis for the U.S. tradition of discussion over…

A variation of the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) for use in a needs assessment with key informants is described. The Missouri Department of Mental Health's planning staff, using the NGT, compiled key decision makers' perceptions of regional needs. The NGT helped in prioritizing the issues for each region. (TJH)

Describes a class activity demonstrating the reality of revolution to introductory political science students. Student "plants" rebel against a teacher's "injustice," overthrow the teacher when he calls on a higher authority, and mobilize the class to sign a petition. Follow-up discussion covers elements required for revolution. (LS)

Describes the Reporter's Reading Method, a student-directed reading system that requires students to write questions as they read, and use those questions as the basis for classroom discussion. (MM)

Describes a four-year race relations curriculum developed by "Sesame Street" Research at Children's Television Workshop that was designed to be more explicit about physical and cultural differences and to encourage friendship between people of different races and cultures. Notes on the discussion following this presentation are included.…

Describes two approaches to introducing a novel to elementary students. Maintains that the second approach, which encourages reader response, is more effective than the first, which mandates the learning of 100 new vocabulary words. Describes a discussion technique based on a "discussion web" or map of possibilities that helps students to explore…