Teaching history is seen to require direct communication from historian to group and back again. Modified Socratic inquiry, it is suggested, accomplishes this goal by involving students more actively in the classroom. It presupposes close reading of material and dialogue as effective as lectures. (MLW)

Describes a system utilizing teacher-made worksheets and guided group discussions which allows middle school students to constructively critique each other's projects. (SJL)

Criticizes the variable analytic approach to small group communication currently being used by many social science researchers and suggests some alternative ways of doing research based on a human action perspective. (JMF)

The study involving 339 third through sixth graders investigated the application of the group discussion paradigm as a vehicle to improve nonhandicapped children's attitudes toward mentally retarded children. (SBH)

Outlines the interdisciplinary problems of communication and how such problems might effectively be addressed in the graduate curricula. (JMF)

Describes study to determine whether students in graduate seminars participate more in student-led discussion groups than in teacher-led discussions. Results show that student-led portions of the seminar had higher rates of responding by more than a two-to-one margin. (KC)

Describes how a fourth grade teacher used themes in children's literature to develop higher levels of reading comprehension. (TJ)

Children's Environmental Theater is part of an environmental education package for lower elementary students. Materials actively involve the students' environment (indoor and outdoor) and the program is by definition experiential. Included in this article are two plays and discussion guides and related activities for each play. (JC)

The feeling of insecurity, the lack of self-confidence, and the ability to relate to others that all children experience from time-to-time can be intensified in a deaf child by sensitivity to his or her handicap. A technique designed to deal with these difficulties was discussed. (Author/RK)

A format for a small-group teaching session is described that could be modified for any subject in a medical curriculum. The technique discussed uses subgroups and a simple recording chart that have been successful in teaching microbiology to medical students. (LBH)

Describes how a high school teacher organized a summer voluntary reading club with her students. Discusses the club's theoretical underpinnings and considers factors behind its success. Describes how she selected texts for the club. Describes members and meetings in detail, and notes how the clubs changed her teaching. Discusses the club's…

Presents exercises designed to make argument and discussion easier by situating them in institutional events where argument could be expected to happen: the governmental commission, the school board meeting, the congressional hearing. Shows how these imaginary places allow for creating three role play situations for different college classes. (PA)

Contains a number of short testimonials from writing educators about the value of computers. Discusses macros, key-word searching, cutting and pasting in electronic mail, online discussions, and the distance classroom. (TB)

Suggests as a read-aloud an entire novel that is particularly well suited for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) learners: "Grab Hands and Run," a story about a family living with and then fleeing from the dangerous situation in El Salvador. Identifies several brief passages in the book and presents each in relation to ESL issues. (SR)

Describes development of a rubric for assessing class discussion. Discusses procedures, student roles, and assessment in a "scored discussion." Notes that students find the process to be both demanding and informing. (RS)