Conceptualizes some aspects of the teacher's role in discussion-intensive teaching in mathematics classrooms. Contributes tools for the construction, discussion, and analysis of teaching practices. Examines teacher moves aimed at moderating the level and nature of disequilibrium and disagreement. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

Used as an explicit evaluation tool, group discussion could encourage ongoing reflection on the program and on individual and group learning. Learner interests are thus interwoven into ongoing process evaluation. (SK)

Describes teachers' experiences in a narrative research group. Meeting regularly to discuss their work as educators and researchers, they examined the story of a disagreement between a teacher and parent. Retelling the story within the supportive research group allowed the teacher to reach new insights about what she shared with the parent and why…

Explores the nature and structure of computer-mediated communication among preservice teachers. Analyzes two extensive student-initiated dialogues on a listserv using Burbules' (1993) dimensions of pedagogical dialogue and his criteria for educationally beneficial and detrimental forms. Notes that findings support the conclusion that the Read-L…

Explains how to use the graded discussion method in chemistry education by using current scientific information. (YDS)

Computer mediated communication (CMC) refers to communication between individuals and among groups via networked computers. Such forms of communication can be "asynchronous" or "synchronous" and serve a wide variety of useful functions ranging from administration to building understanding and knowledge. As such there are many reasons for interest…

During the season of political campaigns scores of bumper stickers, posters, and other items with slogans supporting one candidate or another suddenly appear and quickly multiply around neighborhoods and towns, with stickers plastered on cars, and posters hanging in windows, or posted in front yards. From George Washington to George W. Bush,…

An activity which stresses on identifying features of functions like the rate of change, intercepts, local and global behavior, zeros and asymptotes is designed to increase the level of understanding of the students and also to clear any doubts that they might have. The students are then asked to make a summary of what was discussed in the class,…

A new textbook was considered which included engaging, carefully sequenced problems to help students develop skill and understanding of division. The teacher's manual encouraged Boerst to provide opportunities for the students to share multiple methods for division in order to reinforce the idea that many ways exist to solve mathematical problems.

Revising reading program can breathe new life into the classroom and increase students' confidence. This paper describes how one teacher decided to refine her reading curriculum. She had five non-negotiables for the curriculum: the need for self-selection of quality literature; volume of reading; peer interaction; individual conferences; and…

The United States is undergoing rapid demographic change leading to growing racial, ethnic, religious and economic diversity in our classrooms. Our students can be sensitized to this growing diversity through exposure to the concept of social justice. The purpose of this article is to provide examples of how social justice issues can be included…

An English teacher discusses the advantages and disadvantages of discussion-based teaching approaches, student understanding, and student achievement. It is noted that the discussion-based approaches in the classroom have a direct impact on students' development as readers.

Beginning at the introductory level, the authors believe students ought to experience a common framework for approaching a general understanding of social life. At a minimum, this requires going back to the discipline's history--back to the journals and books that provide the foundational context for the discipline's framework and, therefore, its…

On April 13, 2004, the College of Education and Professional Studies held its 2nd annual college minority student discussion panel at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. The main purpose of the panel discussion was for undergraduate students from culturally diverse backgrounds to discuss the personal experiences they have had as a…

This article builds upon the idea of audacious hope in action described by Generett and Hicks in "Beyond Reflective Competency: Teaching for Audacious Hope-in-Action." Outlining the difficulties that teachers experience sustaining hope, the author describes the survival strategies used by African Americans to remain hopeful when there was little…