Teachers can make sure students know important facts and concepts before giving unit tests by using the expert group review strategy. Small, mixed-ability student groups review different parts of the unit and present their findings to the class. After the test, students discuss the value of expert group review. (SM)

Describes a series of instructional episodes in an 11th-grade classroom discussing J.D. Salinger's short story "The Laughing Man." Presents and discusses the "Text and Context" model for the negotiation of interpretations in classroom contexts. Offers suggestions for developing interpretive classroom communities. (SR)

Employees were randomly assigned to preretirement education approaches: 13 to participatory learning, 78 to lecture/discussion groups, and 7 to a nontreatment control group. Participatory learners scored higher on all attitude, two of three behavior, and one of three information gain scales. Perceived involvement in preretirement was positively…

Presents study results examining social pressure within sexually homogenous groups. Explains that cohesiveness, based on common beliefs, was established in half of the sample while prevented in the remainder. Reports that groups were required to reach consensus after conflict was introduced. Concludes that low cohesion groups showed the greatest…

Examines the need to incorporate ethnic issues into psychology of women courses. Suggests topics for inclusion, such as family relationships among ethnic groups and cultural versus gender identity. Identifies issues for class discussion, including the experiences of a variety of ethnic women and the methodological concerns that differentially…

Provides a lesson plan on the issue of distributive justice, or fairness in the ways things are distributed among individuals and groups. Includes a student reading concerning a proposed guaranteed standard of living. Proposes an activity that calls for student discussion of a constitutional amendment that would offer such a guarantee. (SG)

Discusses teaching social studies using public issues to develop student understanding. Describes identification of issues, justification and clarification of positions, and the discussion process. Suggests that selection of issues should be based on the importance of the issues to society and their significance for teachers and students. (DK)

Describes an interactive approach to the study of German lyric texts, based upon reader response theory. Using this approach, students observe themselves and their reactions to the experience, and their observations become the basis for class discussion and analysis of the text. (GLR)

Discussion of how information technology affects higher education focuses on ethical dilemmas and creating appropriate policies and guidelines. The process of exercising discipline within a university community is considered, and one model of policy creation and community process that used facilitated discussions at the University of Michigan is…

Fifteen true-false statements are provided that are to be used to spur discussion and arguments about the concept of motion. Each statement is carefully worded to sound plausible, but each one attacks some misunderstanding common to students who are encountering Newton's mechanics for the first time. (KR)

Describes a program in which groups of middle school and junior high teachers read and discuss popular, best-selling literature, for the purposes of promoting their personal reading and enhancing school faculty camaraderie. (PRA)

The literature seminar format meets the needs of gifted students for intellectual challenges, complex curricular experiences, creative research and writing activities, and stimulating interactions. Three seminars conducted in the English curriculum at a special school for gifted students are described: "Dickens and the Industrial…

Discusses what the author learned about teaching the questioning process from a class of second graders when they elected to discuss a student-posed question that seemed nonsensical to the author. Shows that what adults think are good questions for discussion are not necessarily what children think will generate interesting and deep talk. (SR)

An experiment using electronic mail discussions to improve communication in a college class of 200 students yielded over 1,780 messages, with two-thirds sent by about one-fourth of the students. Two problems emerged: students responding to old messages after discussion had enlarged, and infrequent mail reading. (MSE)

Presented is a lesson in which students learn about characteristic traits of a species and variations within a species. Background information for teaching and assessing the lesson and topics for possible class discussions are provided. An activity in which students learn about traits and variations of themselves is included. (KR)