Describes the college-level use of written reading reactions structured assignments requiring students to describe and react in writing to assigned reading, followed by classroom discussion in which all students must select and share ideas. The method is found to encourage on-time reading of assignments, broader student participation, higher…

Describes three games for all ages, used in adventure- and experiential-education settings. Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props, instructions, and tips for post-activity group reflection and processing where appropriate. The games demonstrate the tenets of adventure programming, involve group…

Recommends and discusses texts that enable students to investigate the "typical" immigrant story, the parallels and differences in immigration experiences, and characteristics of immigrants. Provides vivid jumping-off points into complex and differentiated lives of real people often hidden beneath labels such as "immigrant." (CMK)

Presents 10 children's books that are particularly rich for analytical classroom discussions. Considers how studying literary theory is a way of becoming more aware of how people read and interpret what they read. Concludes that these books are good reading and good vehicles for introducing critical theories. (SC)

Strategies-based instruction aims to help learners become more responsible for learning and using the target language. In an SBI classroom, teachers describe and model potentially useful strategies; elicit additional examples from students; lead group discussions about strategies; encourage student experimentation; and integrate approaches into…

Argues that British students of language study at A level need opportunities to build a broad foundation for exploring language experience, familiar issues and accessible concepts using practical activities and informal discussion if they are to develop their understanding of the more formal and systematic aspects of language theory. (SC)

Studies a high school mathematics teacher's efforts to implement an effective math discussion activity. Shows that her successful use of the Socratic Seminars method improved students' attitudes toward reading mathematics; infused the language of math into the classes; and increased student participation in class as students became active learners…

Describes two class activities which used a computer software program to allow junior and senior high students to discuss and create on computers, electronically, in real time. Describes an online discussion in a large group, as well as a pairing activity in which two students worked together online to create an original poem. (SR)

Describes a system that automatically classifies e-mail messages in the HUMANIST electronic discussion group into one of four classes: question, response, announcement, or administrative. The system's ability to accurately classify a message was compared against manually assigned codes. Results suggested that there was a statistical agreement in…

Describes Multiple-User Dungeons (MUDs), multiple-user computer programs that allow participants to interact with others in "real time" exchanges. Discusses their potential in the writing classroom and beyond, and notes their potential for faculty development activities. Offers a list of Internet resources, some actual MUD addresses, and other…

Discusses using the Internet to bring together students from classrooms at opposite ends of the country, and with diverse ethnic makeup, to join in a discussion and examination of their responses to a text by an African-American author. Examines the successes and failures of this project. Discusses the technical and institutional support that made…

The Internet provides more than access to library catalogs, weather reports, and games. This article describes two categories of scholarly Internet resources: peer-reviewed electronic journals and academic discussion lists (also known as electronic conferences or newsgroups), explains how to access and subscribe, and discusses the advantages and…

Addresses the questions: How does the interaction--primarily as talk--that occurs among children who read together extend their understanding of language and learning to read? Are there productive gains in their emerging literacy skills because of the talk that occurs as children pore over books together? Concludes that children's interactions…

Reports on a developmental approach to education that promotes student understanding of racial identity. Examines the developmental complexity of dialogues about race and the importance of developing a new kind of dialogue in which a collaborative, rather than an adversarial, environment is created, and where students can express themselves…

Sets out the positions of Liberal and Communitarian philosophers on the fundamental requirements for a democratic civil society. Argues that a cultural, pluralist, democratic society will be characterized by a diversity of controversial moral positions at a range of levels. Offers discussion as a method of reconciling controversial moral…