The time and effort spent during the first days of a new semester are key to the success of the class that lies ahead. What happens during these first days can set a tone that inspires students to work actively and cooperatively to achieve success in the new semester, or to sit back and assume a "here we go again" attitude. In this article, the…

This paper describes an attempt to introduce 33 education majors to the concept of cooperative learning as a teaching method they may use when they are classroom teachers. The benefits of cooperative learning for young students are briefly discussed, and an explanation is given of the "Student Teams Achievement Divisions" (STAD) system of grade…

College students, ranked as high, medium, or low ability, were assigned to homogeneous or mixed-ability groups of two through five members for a test. Performance proved proportional to the number of high ability group members. The underlying group process was inferred through social decision scheme analysis. (Author/SJL)

This paper describes a reality-based learning project in which sophomore accounting and engineering students collaborated in interdisciplinary teams to design and build a million-dollar waterslide park. Two weeks into the project, the teams received a briefing from an industrial panel of engineers, bankers, entrepreneurs, and other professionals.…

A project to expand the participation in research by the education faculty of the member institutions in the Atlanta University Center is described. The primary objective was to provide an opportunity for black scholars to participate in research with emphasis on issues confronting black communities in the 1980s. The focus was to enhance the…

This paper presents the thesis that pair problem-solving serves as an aid to students in developing their metacognitive skills. Metacognition has been defined as knowledge and cognition about cognitive objects and as any kind of monitoring. The ability to monitor one's thoughts and actions is greatly facilitated through the pair problem-solving…

The learning team approach, involving teams of students formed on the basis of interest, is offered as an alternative to lectures for large group instruction of many general education survey courses. Class structure, possible activities, and the role of the instructor are discussed. (JMD)

Senior level psychology majors and inservice counselors were administered the Rehabilitation Counseling Judgment Scale. A comparison of individual decisions, after sharing their thoughts in group discussion, indicated that group decisions were riskier than individual decisions. Implications of the effects of group interaction on rehabilitation…

Eight strategies are recommended to higher education in the 1990s including committing to improving quality; stressing customer service; increasing use of data and analysis in management; developing data on outcomes issues, processes, and behaviors; and working cooperatively with elementary and secondary education. (MLW)

Describes plan to integrate collaborative and interprofessional competencies into core curricula of human service professional preparation programs at California State University, focusing on a joint seminar incorporating self-assessment and case analysis. Compares case discussions of nursing, criminal justice, and child development students.…

The Manhattanville (New York) College Neuroscience Outreach Program is a research-based effort that presents different topics in neuroscience to science students in local middle schools. The program aims to provide a forum for curriculum development and teaching, enhance a cooperative internal community, and increase student awareness of the…

A study compared evaluations of undergraduate students' oral presentations by groups of peers and faculty teams. Students (n=210), in assessment teams, rated quality of content and presentation using a 22-point guide. Comparison of peer and faculty scores showed no significant difference in averages but did show significant differences in standard…

College agriculture students (n=90) were grouped into cooperative learning teams based on learning style: field dependent, field independent, field neutral, or mixed. Teams with heterogeneous learning styles did not perform better than homogeneous teams, nor did they have higher levels of satisfaction with team activities or higher attendance. (SK)

Student activities programs are usually dependent on teams of students and advisers. Theory, potential outcomes, basic steps, and resources for team-building are introduced, and improving output potential, basic steps in team-building, and giving and receiving feedback are discussed. (MLW)

Describes evolution and structure of the four-year leadership curriculum at Southwestern College (Kansas), whose model promotes personal development, interpersonal growth, and service leadership through class work, field trips, conferences, and practical experience. Students work on projects throughout the program as teams, mentored in the early…