Describes how the author implemented an online discussion group in his university English as a foreign language classroom. Notes that students benefit in many ways: they share experiences and learn from others, practice writing skills, and create a more interactive environment in and out of the classroom. (SR)

Suggests five activities for the college classroom to stimulate discussion when students report results of small- group discussions to the class as a whole. The activities "newsprint dialogue," rotating small-group stations, "snowballing,""cocktail party," and "jigsaw" stress maximum student participation, interaction, and intellectual engagement.…

Describes "assigned conversations," a technique for inducing focused study of reading assignments outside of class by using them to structure cooperative learning in class. Individual students take responsibility for leading a class conversation about a portion of text. Application with both large and small classes indicated the method increases…

Describes teaching methods that promote reflexivity, a practice of observing and locating one's self as a knower within certain cultural and sociohistorical contexts, in order to open up the classroom for all students. Provides seven strategies that each incorporate reflexivity within a course, such as modeling and inviting speakers. (CMK)

Describes an instructional process used in a college developmental reading class (as well as with upper-level classes) that promotes the development of active, engaged readers who constructed meaning through social interaction with fellow classmates. Describes how this strategy was applied to segments of "Night" by Elie Wiesel. (SR)

Describes an approach to supporting student teacher belief change via self-regulation and metacognitive awareness. Study teams of Dutch student teachers worked in a self-regulated manner on problems they selected. When actively involved in inquiry-oriented and reflective learning and encouraged to discuss and exchange thoughts, they became…

Presents suggestions for the implementation of focus groups among Latino farmworkers in the United States. Recommendations are based on a study of risk factors for HIV and AIDS among Latino farmworkers. They center on group membership, facilitation, and the focus group process. (SLD)

Explores the responses of primary school groups to animal exhibits. Data obtained from analysis of the content of conversation suggest more similarities than differences by gender. Contains 24 references. (DDR)

Examines ways that issues of sexual orientation can successfully be taught in the computer-assisted composition classroom. Shows how both gay and straight students can benefit from online and networked discussions of sexual orientation. Suggests that computerized learning-spaces offer possibilities for open discussion not available in conventional…

Discusses the types of computer-mediated communications (CMC) systems now available for supporting collaboration over the Internet. Discusses alternative frames of references for understanding how the growing array of Internet tools can be applied to collaborative projects, concluding that initiators of collaborative activities need to avoid being…

Describes Book Sharing Sessions, in which struggling readers are immersed in peer discussions about books they have read. Discusses how, through this immersion and through modeling and explicit instruction, children learn to think about what is important in a book; how to convey its meaning; and how to ask questions, listen, and lead discussions.…

Illustrates how classroom talk that includes students, families, and teachers can create spaces in which students from diverse cultural backgrounds negotiate purposeful literacy practices. Presents two versions of a story of a family visit, the first version reflects an educator's understanding of the visit at the time and the second reflects the…

Describes how "remaking" successfully occurred in one classroom in which general readers were remade as gifted and talented readers. Analyzes ethnographically collected classroom discussions and student work to provide telling cases of the conditions that support the remaking of a reader. Illustrates the central relationship between individual…

Techniques for mental-health nursing students that help integrate theory and practice include a journal club, in which students discuss research reports and other literature, and clinical seminars, weekly sessions in which critical reflections on practice experiences are examined. (Contains 38 references.) (SK)

The Tribal Disability Actualization Process used culturally appropriate deliberation processes and particpatory action research in considering policies for American Indians with disabilities. Talking circles on five reservations were used to achieve consensus on the needs of people with disabilities and derive community-driven solutions that are…