Discusses the role that online instructors should take when facilitating asynchronous discussion forums. Presents a study of an online astronomy program in an Australian university that investigated ways that the rate at which instructors posted and how often the instructors initiated discussions correlated to student posting rates and student…

Interviews and observations in literacy programs for welfare recipients indicated that, when learners tried to discuss problematic issues, teachers deflected discussion, upholding official discourses and ideological beliefs about learners and program purposes. The curriculum-in-use supported dominant discourses about meritocracy and racist and…

Describes a study that was conducted to investigate instructor perceptions of the impact on instruction when asynchronous text-based Internet communication technology was integrated into distance courses at the University of Alberta. Highlights include the theory of transactional distance; and results of interviews with instructors regarding…

Provides classroom activities to enable students to learn about the economics of auctions. Explains that the students complete a written assignment listing products that are sold at auctions and participate in a classroom discussion. Includes ideas following the discussion, such as the alternative hypothesis strategy, housing auctions, and…

Describes university intergroup dialogue programs, which bring together diverse students to discuss issues related to their diversity and develop comfort with and skills for discourse on difficult topics. Examines their basic tenets, themes, and variations. Research on the impact of intergroup dialogue programs in higher education indicates that…

Presents a collection of excerpts from a recent virtual class discussion students (primarily senior English majors planning to become English teachers) had on a course listserv regarding young adult literature. Contains annotations of 10 recommended works of YA literature. (SG)

Describes an in-class demonstration devised to guide class discussion of the purposes and forms of U.S. legal scholarship for foreign students in U.S. graduate law programs. Asserts that this reasonable investment of class time should result in a significant improvement in students' seminar papers and theses. (EV)

University preparation programs in school counseling, special education, and social work services remain separate with pre-service collaboration virtually nonexistent. A multidisciplinary electronic discussion forum was implemented to overcome the traditional barriers of space and time to allow students to use the Internet to collaborate in their…

Notes that asynchronous online discussion forums can enhance community college students' education. Focuses on how online discussion forums uniquely contribute to the teaching and learning of community college students. Discusses benefits of the online discussion forum. Concludes that educators must continue identifying who students are, how they…

Describes an evaluation of an online course at the University of the West of England that was designed to move towards a student-centered, constructivist learning approach. Highlights include student perceptions of online learning; patterns of use of online resources; and the need for developing facilitator skills to promote discussion.…

Discusses seating arrangements in small developmental classes, suggesting that having students sit in a semi-circle or work in small groups can be effective ways to keep students from attempting to disappear in the back of the class. Also offers ways to deal with this issue in a computer classroom. (NB)

Compares Sophocles'"Antigone" with the shootings of antiwar protestors on May 4, 1970, at Kent State University to help ancient tragedy come alive for students as modern tragedy. (MG)

Assessed relationship between group's ability to differentiate characteristics of conflict and consensus/cohesion formulation among 141 subjects in 32 problem-solving discussions. Determined that high consensus groups had significantly higher differentiation scores on depersonalized/positive and depersonalized/negative conflict than did low…

Stories can help teachers give children models and mores for reflection and growth. This article suggests specific books that deal with lying and provides guidelines for class discussion. (IAH)

Argues that teachers must find new ways to integrate into the curriculum the critical thinking skills of writing, speaking, reading, and listening. Suggests placing students in problem-solving conferences which require participants to define, analyze, brainstorm on, and evaluate problems before finding and implementing solutions. Proposes…