The purpose of this paper is to describe the pedagogical background and design rationale of ITCOLE (Innovative Technology for Collaborative Learning) software. The ITCOLE software is a highly scalable and easy to use modular environment that supports students' joint efforts to build knowledge together, whether they are primary, secondary, or older…

The Department for Education and Employment's "The Year 7 Spelling Bank" is intended to support teachers in England in teaching spelling systematically and enjoyably in ways which help students to develop a positive perspective on themselves as spellers. This booklet contains a bank of teaching ideas to help in the teaching of word level…

A peer-tutoring project in undergraduate mathematics at a university in the United Kingdom was designed both to provide support for independent learning tasks and for group projects. A survey of students found that while most liked and felt they benefited from the group experience, most also did not like the independent learning tasks. (Author/MSE)

The practice of supplementing language textbooks with input from students is recommended as a way to increase learner understanding and motivation. Several general language learning activities adapted to contain an environmental theme are described. It is suggested that the environmental theme helps promote lifelong learning. (Contains 15…

Evaluates a teaching program called TRAC (Talk, Reasoning, and Computers) that is used for scaffolding children's effective use of language as a tool for reasoning and collaborative activity. Finds that using the TRAC program can increase the amount of exploratory talk used by children working together in the classroom. (CMK)

This qualitative study presents findings from initial exploratory work that examined how father development workers (FDWs) supported fathers to become involved in their children's learning, within the context of father groups. The study found that there were two main purposes behind the father groups and the subsequent role of FDWs in supporting…

This publication reports on Communities in Crisis, a resource and adult education program designed to encourage local community leaders and volunteers to reflect critically upon their experiences and exchange ideas across different towns, cities, and regions in the United Kingdom. Part 1 describes the program and its three aims: sharing…

A positive self-concept is important for all children. Parents can assess their children's feelings about themselves and improve their children's self-respect. Feelings about the self are important because they affect children's success, sense of worth, ability to love others and to learn. Adults may inadvertently undermine a child's self-esteem…

This article shows the extent to which pupils borrow information from one another. In the course of classroom observations, learning in groups appeared to be polyphonic and was based upon the ideas of others. Learning through plagiarism, however, must be interpreted not as negative interdependence, but as a way for children to construct new…

George Jacobs holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. He has taught courses on English, cooperative learning, curriculum design, environmental education, and multiple intelligences in the U.S., Thailand, Singapore, Nicaragua, and China . Dr. Jacobs has published more than 100 articles, book chapters,…

Described is a classroom simulation for high school economics students which illustrates concepts of scarcity, economic resources, differing systems of resource allocation, economic interdependence, and specialization. For availability, see SO 505 564. (Author/AV)

Presents the results from an Australian study where secondary school students (n=290) completed questionnaires that focused on motivational goals, metacognitive awareness, need for affiliation, social anxiety, and feelings towards group work. States that the results were discussed in the context of group-based learning. (CMK)

Describes biological competitions at the high school level in Poland. Argues that they can be used to enhance and maintain students' interest in the subject. (Author/YP)

Presents the Conceptual Understanding Program (CUP) as a means of helping first-year university physics students overcome their misconceptions in mechanics. Students work on exercises alone, then in threes, and finally as a class, which has resulted in high levels of participation and satisfaction among students. This strategy can be implemented…

Discusses activities, adaptable for elementary through high school levels, for learning about the people who work in local government and the programs local governments provide. Explains that the activities are useful starting points for project ideas that enlist the involvement of students, teachers, and local government officials. (CMK)