Purpose: This paper aims to provide an overview of the development of learning organization concepts from the perspective of Nancy Dixon, who has been at the forefront of the learning organization discussion since the 1980s. Design/methodology/approach: Through a conversation with Dixon, and a scan of some of her works, this paper discusses…

The publication in June of Sir Peter Williams' review of mathematics teaching in early years' settings and primary schools came at a time when the thoughts of many teachers were turning towards a well-earned summer break. However, the report has attracted much attention and promises a fundamental shake-up of attitudes and approaches to the…

In this article, the author presents lively and interesting ideas on renewing children's interest in group-time meetings. Come springtime, teachers usually find that interest is flagging at their class group-time meetings. It is at this time of year that children often need something extra special to inspire and motivate them in the classroom. The…

Suggests that young pupils find collaborative learning hard to sustain, and discusses interpretations of this observation. Suggests that theory and research have neglected situational continuities between formal and (more successful) informal collaborations. Argues for attending more carefully to the environments of joint problem solving and how…

Examines the importance of cooperative learning in early childhood, which promotes social and academic benefits and can build supportive and more inclusive classroom communities. Suggests seven key ideas to differentiate cooperative groups from traditional groups, including interdependence, goals, grouping, and leadership, with examples from…

Strengths of the committee system and its value for colleges and universities are discussed. College committees provide more people with the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. Leadership is provided to a committee by a chairperson who acts as a facilitator. The value of a committee depends on the scope of its mission, the…

This paper presents information and strategies designed to enable teachers and counselors to understand, practice, and utilize the group process known as open classroom meetings. It considers the types of classroom meetings that can be utilized, such as social problem solving meetings, open-ended meetings, and educational diagnostic meetings. The…

Suggests the use of thematically integrated readings to impose meaningful organization on reading course content, by selecting a theme which lends itself to a broad spectrum of academic disciplines and genres. Recommends a variety of collaborative learning problem-solving tasks to help students assert control over their learning environment. (DMM)

This paper explores the potential of telecommunications in education. It is proposed that classrooms begin telecomputing by communicating with "electronic pen pals," where students write for a distant audience and learn about different cultures through interaction on the computer. The following three sequential stages of the process are…

Offers suggestions for teaching information skills to kindergarten through second-grade students. Highlights include book titles to use as discussion lead-ins; library group activities; the use of technology, including computer software and electronic mail; and problem-solving skills. (LRW)

Asserts that elementary students should know the basic vocabulary of economics, in particular, the "Significant Six": (1) goods and services; (2) productive resources; (3) scarcity; (4) opportunity cost; (5) specialization; and (6) exchange. Provides a lesson called "Benny's Pennies" that focuses on goods and services that…

Presents and discusses assumptions for a general-mathematics problem-solving curriculum that incorporate the belief that all students can do algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, that mathematics must be presented in problem situations, and that students should work cooperatively. Worksheets provide exemplary problem-solving activities. (MDH)

Discusses cooperative problem solving among Open University physics and math students and describes three studies that investigated how to design effective computer-based support for collaborative learning in distance education. The value of peer interaction for learning and problem solving is discussed, and students' attitudes to group work are…