The discussion guide explores the policy debate over immigration to the United States with regard to economic and quality of life concerns, environmental issues, and ethical considerations. The first article discusses the growing sentiments against immigration while using an historical account of U.S. immigration history and laws. While a…

This paper offers a small group discussion model as a viable alternative for facilitating critical thinking. The paper first review literature discussing what critical thinking is and whether it can be taught. After defining critical thinking as an active process which involves constructing arguments, the paper concludes that an optimally…

Wofford College, like many other schools, assigns a book to its incoming freshmen each summer for them to read before they arrive on campus in the fall. The goal is for them to share a common intellectual experience and to see right away that the emphasis of a liberal arts education is learning though reading, thinking, and discussing. This…

Literature study discussions have been included in many instructional frameworks for the past twenty years. As classroom teachers struggled to get quality discussions going, researchers and educators offered a variety of pedagogical approaches, theoretical considerations, and instructional resources to support their efforts. While the use of…

TEACHERS IN BIOLOGY, ENGLISH, HUMANITIES, MATHEMATICS, PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY AND AT VARIOUS JUNIOR COLLEGES IN FLORIDA TESTED THE VALUE OF ORIENTING COURSES TOWARD STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND AWAY FROM LECTURES. EACH INSTRUCTOR CONDUCTED ONE CONVENTIONAL COURSE AND ONE EXPERIMENTAL, LESS STRUCTURED COURSE COVERING…

Volume II contains 20 discussion units for the final five months of the Calendar for the American Issues Forum Bicentennial program (see SO 008 613 for Vol. I). Discussion topics in this book include Working in America; the Business of America; America in the World; Growing up in America; and Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Although a…

The American Issues Forum (AIF) is a national Bicentennial program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and cosponsored by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. AIF seeks to engage Americans in serious consideration of the nation's institutions, values, and traditions through a calendar which sets forth and…

This study examined the effects of a cross-age training program on the interpersonal conceptions of the students serving as trainers. A total of 24 sixth graders participated in the study, 12 in the training group and 12 in the control group which received no training. The training group met twice a week, once to lead dilemma discussion groups…

"Planning Educational Change: Vol. III, Integrating the Desegregated School," by Chesler, Jorgensen, and Erenberg is reviewed in this issue of the "NCRIEEO Newsletter." The book in question tries to provide teachers and administrators with methods for improving race relations in desegregated schools. Some of the techniques suggested include role…

When the Tacoma School District in Washington State moved to end de facto segregation in April, 1968, an inservice training program for teachers was instituted. The objectives of the program were: (1) to develop educators' awareness of prejudices and sensitivity to racial minorities; and, (2) to develop procedures for creating this new awareness…

Students who work in small discussion groups will not significantly surpass those who study under teacher direction in terms of mean learning achievement, cognitive operations such as comprehension and application, or acquired learning. This conclusion resulted from a study of learning in two classroom situations, one utilizing teacher-directed…

Reported are the results of an investigation of the effects of small-group discussions in mathematics classes for preservice elementary school teachers. The content of the course included modern algebraic and geometric concepts. Both classes were taught by the same instructor and studied from the same set of understanding of the interdependence of…

College student personnel may extend their services to academic faculty by training undergraduates to lead discussion groups. Training workshops for two different discussion methods are discussed. Research findings suggest that the most effective of the two methods is the one best suited to the individual leader. (Author)

Describes two teaching techniques that can be used to personalize the standard lecture format used in large group human sexuality classes. The techniques involve the use of varied homework assignments and the use of upper-level students as discussion leaders. (Author/AEM)

Student scores on listening tests increased as a result of a 45-minute class discussion on listening skills and a high-incentive condition: telling students that if they did not score well on the test, a written report on listening would be required. (PD)