Describes a two-week instructional unit for ninth-grade gifted students which emphasizes development of ethical thinking and decision-making skills using a structured group-discussion methodology. Students formulate discussion questions through a multi-step process. Unit guide sheets, brainstorming examples, and activity schedules are included.…

Describes a number of informal "turn-to-your-neighbor" approaches that create an active learning environment in college lecture settings. These include: launching class in discussion, breaking up the lecture for comprehension checks, closing class with small-group conversation, and debriefing exams. (DB)

This booklet contains a collection of educational games that can be used by teachers to convey ideas and create discussion related to environmental protection and sustainable development. The games accommodate participants of all ages and require little preparation by the teacher, up to 30-40 players with only one operator, minimal materials (many…

Graduate students studying personnel evaluation were each assigned to interview three professionals regarding their experiences with personnel evaluation. Five interview questions, common across the 12 class members, were supplied. In class, students were formed into groups, a chairperson and recorder were selected for each group, and an agenda…

A method for volunteer teachers to help students set learning objectives in a home-based English-as-a-Second-Language program for native Spanish-speakers is presented. The philosophy is that in this kind of learning program, real-life language situations are most appropriate for language study and mastery, and that those situations are best chosen…

This digest offers guidelines in providing challenging reading opportunities for gifted students. Research findings concerning the characteristics of the gifted child as reader (e.g., they read earlier, better and more) are noted. Specific needs of gifted learners can be met by: using literature as a supplement to the readings in basal texts;…

Discussion groups are an excellent instructional strategy for exploring ideas, disclosing views on issues, and uncovering learning needs. Their strength lies in that they draw upon the experiences and values of the group members. They are most successful when structured in such a way that they encourage all members to contribute freely to the…

These guidelines are adapted from Verderber and Verderber's "Inter-Act," a manual for interpersonal communication. The examples are from English composition classes, but the general principles are applicable in any situation involving criticism. Guidelines for giving constructive criticism include making the criticism relevant and…

Based on the SEFAM (Supporting Extended Family Members) program, the manual is intended to help organize a program for fathers of handicapped young children. A program for fathers and infants focuses on unique father concerns and resources. The first chapter further explores reasons for father programs while the second describes program components…

The author describes cooperative learning (cooperation among students and between students and staff) as one of the major process aspects of the management course at the Sheffield (England) Polytechnic. In addition, he presents some methods used to promote cooperative learning. (MF)

Describes the advantages of students' free discussion groups in literature classes. Provides a transcription of five students discussing a poem. (RL)

Suggests that microbiology activities/experiments are suitable for teaching skills in designing experiments, manipulating tables/graphs, and the rewriting of work. Shows how students design an experiment using a table and how another experiment provides material for a group discussion on writing and rewriting. (DH)

To encourage dialogue between student teachers and college faculty, the Carolina Colloquy for University Teaching, an organization of the 16 public universities in the University of North Carolina (UNC) system, designed a 1-day, systemwide conference on building bridges (11th, Winston-Salem, NC, March 19, 1999). The goals were to provide an…

This booklet, developed by England's Department for Education and Employment, provides information and teaching strategies to support the teaching of speaking and listening skills and develop confidence as speakers and listeners, by providing models, carefully planned activities and tasks that promote different kinds of talk and listening, and…

This paper calls for development of powerful instructional strategies that will enable teachers to educate students with wide-ranging abilities and backgrounds in integrated settings. Three peer-mediated instructional procedures that have been used with at-risk students are described: classwide peer tutoring, classwide student tutoring teams, and…