This study investigated differences in productivity and student preference between cooperative groups formed in the classroom based on either learning objectives or students' personal and social interests. Participants were kindergarten students (10 African American, 5 Caucasian--6 girls, 11 boys) in an inner city class. The students' personal…

Contends that aesthetics can be be made understandable and relevant to students. Describes a classroom lesson in which middle school students learned about aesthetic theory through a hands-on activity. Includes instructional procedures and suggested art works for the activity. (CFR)

Describes a lesson for secondary students where they identify the most positive and negative features of current law governing the status of minors and the relationship of adults to children. Provides a sample of court cases and a list of issues affecting teen-age rights and protections. (CMK)

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of an educational intervention on the knowledge and attitudes of pre-allied health students toward older adults. The subjects were 41 pre-allied health students assigned to an intervention (n = 19) or comparison group (n = 22). The intervention group participated in a six-hour multi-modal…

Conventional wisdom has it that the way to achieve more is to study harder--put in longer hours and avoid the distraction of other people. Research suggests something different--study smarter, not necessarily harder, and use other students as a support group. This book provides teachers and counselors with tools they need to help students improve…

The learning communities at New York's LaGuardia Community College consist of groups of students taking two or more classes together and providing each other with social and academic support, while professors integrate class content to broaden understanding. A study undertaken to compare the experience of students in the college's LC programs to…

This handbook, produced by the School Environmental Impact Program (Indiana) was developed to improve school environments and to create more positive attitudes and behaviors in school participants (all those involved in the school and its environment). It is designed to help in the assessment of school conditions by individuals, groups, or school…

Data were collected in 51 desegregated high schools, to determine what school practices improved racial attitudes and behaviors. Results indicated that programs involving cooperative interaction among students of different races were most likely to lead to positive race relations. (Author/MH)

Part of the Australian "Reading Around Series," this document offers a set of guidelines for fostering cooperative learning in a language arts classroom. The problems with competitive and/or individual learning, and the reasoning behind cooperative learning, are presented in the first section of the document. The second section outlines…

The first of two papers describes the author's experiences teaching a narrow-cast instructional development course at Indiana University. Among the disadvantages of the experience were the logistics of coordinating the instructional activities between two campuses, additional preparation time requirements, diminished student-teacher interactions,…

Reports on a study of the impact of cooperative learning techniques, compared with traditional Navy instructional methods, on Navy air traffic controller trainees. Finds that cooperative learning methods improved higher level reasoning skills and resulted in no failures among the trainees. (CFR)

Contends that mental mapping of school and community violence provides a concrete picture of youth perspectives on violence. Presents a lesson plan to help students analyze violence issues and develop community service projects. Includes student objectives, step-by-step instructional procedures, and a student handout. (CFR)

Studies attitudes of 120 African-American undergraduates toward academic interdependence and motivation in interdependent and independent learning contexts. Results indicate a prevalent cooperative academic attitude, with a positive impact on academic motivation in cooperative contexts. African-American students tend to be disposed more toward…

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)

Presents two classroom ideas for elementary social studies: (1) a job description and responsibility program and (2) a cross-cultural, folktale-based activity using an award-winning children's book. Includes instructions for implementing the activities, a list of job descriptions, and a chart of African terms and their English meanings. (CFR)