Feminist Research Methodology Groups (FRMGs) have developed as a specific type of women's group in which feminist academics can find supportive audiences for their work while contributing to a feminist redefinition of research methods. An analysis of two FRMGs reveals common characteristics, dynamics, and outcomes. Both were limited to small…

The relative effectiveness of spontaneously-formed and organized group study was compared along with the effect of studying independently. Subjects were 34 undergraduate psychology students who participated during the regular class period. Analyses were done on grade-point averages (an index of past academic performance) and grades for the course…

This proposal suggests staff programs for implementing better cultural and racial relations in an integrated school system in Burke County, North Carolina. Specifically, new instructional challenges for interracial classrooms, such as inclusion of black history and culture, are studied. Also, ways to involve staff in new understanding and skills…

In a study designed to investigate the relative effectiveness of three methods of television utilization, 817 fifth grade students were exposed to 12 telelessons on a science unit about insects. With one group of students, the teachers were instructed to use a Socratic approach, ask questions and give immediate knowledge of correct responses. In…

Providing students with the opportunity to establish their own learning goals is an essential factor in stimulating them to assume learning responsibility. Since the experience may be new for students, careful teacher planning for the first day is necessary and includes such preparations as creating a guideline of objectives, arranging the…

Orientation, in terms of the group discussion process, is the attempt to assist in achieving the group goals by using facts, making helpful suggestions, or resolving conflicts. Orientation behavior has been shown to relate in a causal manner to group consensus. This study reports significantly high positive correlations between orientation…

Depth core discussion is designed to provide a mechanism for interaction between students and instructor with the express purpose of integrating the cognitive objectives of the leadership course for the United States Naval Academy (see the final reports which summarize the course development project, EM 010 418, EM 010 419, and EM 010 484) with…

Describes booktalk program at Miller Avenue School (Shoreham, New York) designed to encourage children to view reading as a pleasurable experience. Reading guidance and assistance, background information, choice of books for booktalk collection, selections by students and leaders, conducting the program, stages of transition, and key factors for…

This case study describes the use of World Wide Web discussion pages and examines the evaluation of online communication protocols in one graduate class. The study begins by describing the theories and grounding literature that guided the development of the online discussion site. The study also describes the process used to develop the online…

Based on the view that strengthening families and neighborhoods can improve the life chances of vulnerable children, this discussion guide is designed to help communities participating in study circle programs to bring people from all segments of the neighborhood together to share different views and experiences, thereby building stronger…

This paper explores the role of instructional scaffolding in the development of undergraduate students' understanding of mathematical proof during a one-year discrete mathematics course. We describe here the framework adapted for the analysis of whole-class discussion and examine how the teacher scaffolded students' thinking. Results suggest that…

Creating a nonthreatening atmosphere, drawing out introverted participants, and relating the lessons of programmed activities to everyday life are a few of the challenges of quality processing (debriefing). At times, alternative methods of processing open doors when straightforward questioning does not. In some instances, alternative methods serve…

A report of classroom activities intended to alleviate the day-to-day communications problems" which students face. (Author/RD)

Several attempts by the author to improve his small group teaching sessions are described and their advantages and drawbacks are discussed. Focus is on his preferred approach, which uses a pattern system to enable students to participate in the structuring of the discussion. (Author/JMD)