This paper looks at factors affecting the success of asynchronous online learning through an investigation of relationships between student perceptions and course design factors in the SUNY (State University of New York) Learning Network, one of the largest asynchronous learning networks in the country. It finds that three such…

This paper discusses how the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) can be adapted for use in online instruction. The four basic stages of the NGT (listing, recording, collating, and prioritizing) are described, and modifications for online delivery are detailed, including: (1) the instructor posts the Socratic question or problem to be posed; (2) students…

The roots of international law are long and ancient. Archaeologists have unearthed treaties between two Mesopotamian rulers dating back to 3100 B.C. Of all the ancient peoples, the development of modern international law owes the most to the Romans. The 20th century saw two attempts to bring world order through the use of international…

This paper describes the struggles of one professional development project as it attempted to use networking technology to promote ongoing reflection and community building among its participating teachers. It employs Riel and Levin's (1990) framework for participant structures in computer networking environments to consider the strengths and…

Noting that a student's study of a state becomes more meaningful when children's and young adult literature is used as an enhancement, this book offers Florida-related works of literature to broaden the study of the state. The book is organized by category: history, historical fiction, biographies, plants, animals, fiction, geography, and travel.…

The Illinois Early Learning Project (IEL) is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education to provide information resources on early learning and training related to implementing the Illinois Early Learning Standards for parents and for early childhood personnel in all settings. The IEL tip sheets offer suggestions to parents and early childhood…

The purpose of this study was to find out how pupils reached agreement and handled disagreement in science group discourse. Fifth-grade students were observed in small groups and participated in face-to-face interviews. Pupils' methods of reaching agreement--including using social psychological means--and ways of addressing disagreement--including…

This study looks at how the media used in online discussion can affect the learning outcomes for students involved in distance learning activities. Online discussion within any learning environment can provide the opportunity for students to engage in thoughtful, content-based conversations about the topic under study, which may result in deeper…

This publication comes in answer to many requests for a brief study of forums which engage the interests of young people. It presents a summary of much material which has flowed into the Office of Education as a result of its sponsorship of community wide public forums. It is presented to educators and laymen in the hope that it will give valuable…

Objectives and procedures are described for using a game focusing upon discussion which involves students in important and current issues. (SM)

Support for this research was provided by The University Research Committee of the University of Alabama.

An alcoholism segment in a behavioral medicine course is described that consists of didactic presentations, videotaped clinical material, patient interviews; and small group Socratic discussion. The course provides an introduction to patient-oriented clinical skills, gives awareness of stereotyping, and addresses social and individual…

This paper stresses the importance of collaborative evaluation and discussion for helping preservice teachers develop the disposition and skill to engage in self-evaluation. Participation in the action-research process can enhance students' abilities to analyze different types of teaching experiences. (Author/PP)

Eleven specific thinking skills are discussed, along with activities to help teachers develop each skill in their students. The skills are: (1) observing; (2) comparing; (3) classifying; (4) imagining; (5) hypothesizing; (6) looking for assumptions; (7) collecting and organizing data; (8) summarizing; (9) interpreting; (10) problem solving; and…

Small group learning monitored by tutors is an essential ingredient of medical education at Limburg State University. Tutor functioning was assessed by students and found to be related to tutor expertise in subject matter under discussion but not to tutor age or experience. (Author/MSE)