This article reports the findings of ethnographic classroom research on the deployment of literature circles in English reading classes in the vocational secondary education sector in Indonesia. Grounded in micro-interactional, thematic, and discourse analyses, empirical findings showed that the students engaged actively in text selection, role…

With the aim to promote students' mathematics learning, we extended the Cognitive Tutor Algebra (CTA), a computer-based tutoring system for high school mathematics, to a collaborative setting. Furthermore we developed a collaboration script to support students' interactions. In an experimental classroom study, we compared three conditions:…

Applies instructional strategies derived from the concept of mastery learning and cooperative learning to 104 undergraduate social science students enrolled in three sections of a required course. Finds significant effects for the combined mastery/cooperative learning condition, showing greater change in self-concept and higher achievement…

The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary examination of the efficacy of two teaching methodologies: traditional lecture versus cooperative learning. A sample of 50 students was taken from a mid-size, southern, metropolitan university. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: 27 who learned course material via the traditional lecture…

The use of several college classroom assessment techniques to evaluate the processes and products of accounting instruction through cooperative learning is described. The discussion looks at considerations in planning classroom assessment, choosing initial assessment techniques and adapting them, and blending cooperative learning structures with…

Two pilot studies of a new science program called WEE Science were conducted in fifth-grade classrooms. The pilots lasted for 7 days in one of the classrooms and 9 days in the other. At the beginning of the program the students chose a science tradebook from among the many that the researchers, teachers, and librarians had selected and brought to…

Describes a classroom in which the teacher has developed a sense of community through her emphasis on whole-language instruction. Describes the organizational patterns of both the teacher's and the children's activities in this exemplary whole-language classroom. Documents instances of collaboration and student choice. (SR)

Research has shown that in the small group setting, students develop well articulated understandings and better recall of their readings. One study, however, showed negative results in terms of recall, understanding, and personal response for small group work in eighth-grade literature classes. Those findings led to follow-up research on the…

Research on group performance and student teaming is summarized, and a new classroom assessment technique for guiding and monitoring student teams is described. The model provides for early, midway, and summative assessment of collective effort and accounts for a range of social functions in the team environment. Results of this technique's use…

Despite the increasing popularity of cooperative learning techniques in elementary instruction, many educators believe that children do not possess effective group interaction skills and advocate that children be taught the group communication skills necessary for group interaction as a separate instructional component. Unfortunately,…

This study was designed to test the null hypothesis which states that there will be no significant difference in mean creativity scores on the verbal or figural subtests of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking among subjects with no creativity training, those with creativity training under traditional, and those with creativity training under…

A study examined different teaching styles to determine which was more beneficial to a kindergartner. The study was conducted through the first marking quarter of the school year. Subjects were 24 kindergartners in a suburban, middle class community within the New York City School District. Students were divided into three sample groups meeting in…

Considers how collaborative classroom research among a group of elementary and middle school teachers provides insight into the effective use of the Three Level Guide, a tool for interacting with specific text or information while teaching students how to interact or construct understanding on three different cognitive levels: literal,…

A study determined the impact of a literacy program including social cooperative literacy experiences on literacy achievement of first-, second-, and third-grade children. Treatment in the experimental groups, which consisted of 204 children from 3 first-, 3 second-, and 3 third-grade urban classrooms included designing classroom literacy centers,…

A program at Lincoln High School in Stockton, California paired mainstream English classes with English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes to improve communication and understanding among students. Two mainstream literature classes were paired with two ESL literature classes. The pairs met about once a month during the school year, with half of…