Describes a project based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) that offers students a chance to design and implement a mini-research program to prepare them for an undergraduate research project. Discusses the context of the GPS exercise, teaching and learning outcomes, and advantages and evaluation of the exercise. (CMK)

States that many students enroll in the introductory history survey course soley because of curricular requirements. Discusses assignments and content of the course, including topics and teaching strategies. Focuses on group activities that engage students and prompt them to participate. (CMK)

Describes the instructional method, Client-Life Cycle GIS Project Learning, used in a course at Indiana University of Pennsylvania that enables students to learn with and about geographic information system (GIS). Discusses the course technical issues in GIS and an example project using this method. (CMK)

Describes the use of a learning community where 36 first-year students cohabitated in a single hall of student housing and enrolled in the class, "The American Political System", and a first-year seminar. Discusses the course content, the benefits of the community experience, and how to improve the community. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of using document-based instruction in social studies at the elementary school level. Describes an exercise used with preservice teachers that can train them to use this technique in their own classrooms. Lists the documents needed and the questions to ask during the activity. (CMK)

Explains an Internet project, used in a college history survey course, with which students posted group position papers to a discussion board. States that the project stimulated debate, discussion, critical analysis, and peer review. Provides student responses to the project and excerpts from student papers. (CMK)

Provides a classroom exercise, known as Synergistic Convergence (SYNCON), in which students are divided into small groups, and then into successively larger groups, until the entire class is involved in one problem. Asks students to develop a list of five heroes and five villains in history. Generates insights into the nature of historical…

Explores whether problem-based learning experiences foster a more thoughtful learning environment than other educational experiences that prospective social studies teachers encounter. Reveals that the beginning teachers viewed problem-based learning as more thoughtful and investigates whether this finding can be associated with overcoming the…

Addresses the issue of teaching students in the U.S. history survey course to read historical works by shifting the focus from the lecture method to collaborative learning techniques. Describes various techniques that can be used in the classroom such as expert groups, Particulars into Generalizations (PIG), and making lists and evaluative…

Addresses the problem of lack of student motivation in an introductory course on U.S. politics. Describes a course centered around a small group project that requires students to gain government action on a group proposal. Presents project format. Discusses student successes and failures. Includes suggestions for course implementation. (RW)

Describes an economic development simulation in which student groups roleplay the leadership of a developing nation. Suggests a semester schedule and provides a number of student materials that include a map and a project participation rating check sheet. Describes information sources where materials may be obtained for further study. (KO)

Reviews research on prejudice reduction. The areas covered are audiovisual approaches, approaches using special materials, cognitive approaches, cooperative learning approaches, human relations training, direct approaches, schoolwide conditions, teacher education, and other techniques. (JDH)

Two graduate teaching assistants (TAs)--one taught language arts methods and the other taught social studies methods--who were office mates at a large university in Florida formulated a plan to create one end-of-course project that would both satisfy requirements and combine the social studies and language arts. That way, students could see that…

Presents a fictitious dialogue among four high-school students involved in a cooperative learning group. Analyzes student interaction, the role of content, and academically gifted students in relation to cooperative learning techniques. Concludes that the use of cooperative learning techniques will increase. (CFR)

Presents a narrative case study based on the use of cooperative learning in a 10th-grade global studies class. Focuses on ethnic groups and emerging issues related to national sovereignty. Describes student participation in group discussions about these topics. (CFR)