This paper reports on the students' experiments of using blogs to encourage themselves to do pre-class reading assignment and reflections after class. The sample in the study included five ESL (English as a Second Language) graduate students in a course of teaching methods, and 90 software engineering students in an undergraduate information…

Web 2.0 communication tools have considerable promise for supporting collaborative learning. But there is a need for research examining learners' and teachers' experiences of the newer communication tools, such as wikis, in comparison with well-established tools, such as discussion forums. This paper reports on an initiative where distance…

Teachers were anonymously surveyed for their views on the ethics of teacher discussions of individual students in formal and informal settings, the latter signifying the teachers' lounge, hallways, etc. (SJL)

The author provides background on the junto and defines its role as a voluntary discussion group attempting to solve problems. She describes recent uses of the junto at conferences and provides guidelines for planning a typical group. (CH)

Eduard Lindeman's book, "The Meaning of Adult Education," and its continued importance in higher education is discussed. Lindeman's thoughts on adult education and its social function and aesthetic relevance are explored. The use of discussion groups as a method of educational discourse is advocated. (DF)

Dialogue with Researchers is a research dissemination program The George Washington University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center has used during the past three years. This program offers researchers the opportunity to discuss their project with a small group of rehabilitation practitioners in an informal setting in the practitioners'…

Describes the function of the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Its establishment and the interests of some of the researchers there, are discussed. (SA)

This study used the Self-Consciousness Scale to test the hypothesis that socially anxious people could seek to avoid embarrassment and do poorly in small group discussions as a result. Those people high in private self-consciousness (lacking concern for social evaluation) would participate more in discussions. Findings supported the hypothesis.…

Examines the relationship between sex and sex- type and leadership in small discussion groups. Results indicate personality influences leadership only during initial group interaction. The best characterization of social and task leadership is via psychological sex type rather than biological sex. Suggests leadership style dogmatism and motivation…

Designed to help school speech and language clinicians who work with parents of handicapped children, the article provides suggestions on group leadership strategies. (CL)

Describes the use of electronic mail discussion lists for students in science methods courses as an attempt at ensuring that preservice teachers are able to use electronic educational technology in teaching science. (JRH)

Examines the extent to which talking helps learning in a convergent group discussion task, where the students' goal is to construct predetermined "true justified knowledge." Analyzes instances where the same group of Malaysian students, studying on a higher education program in the United Kingdom, both succeeded and failed to arrive at the truth.…

Presents an overview of the National Endowment for the Humanities sponsored Let's Talk about It Program. The intended audience is examined, the role of the scholar analyzed, and the special responsibilities of the discussion leader delineated. Results of the program are evaluated and suggestions for planning a program are offered. (six references)…

Presents study results examining social pressure within sexually homogenous groups. Explains that cohesiveness, based on common beliefs, was established in half of the sample while prevented in the remainder. Reports that groups were required to reach consensus after conflict was introduced. Concludes that low cohesion groups showed the greatest…

Discussion of how information technology affects higher education focuses on ethical dilemmas and creating appropriate policies and guidelines. The process of exercising discipline within a university community is considered, and one model of policy creation and community process that used facilitated discussions at the University of Michigan is…