Purpose: At a time when secondary vocational education is implementing competence-based education (CBE) on a large scale, to adapt to the needs of students and of the labour market in a modern society, many vocational schools have recognised that interdisciplinary teacher teams are an important condition for this implementation. In order to…

Suggests many quick, easy and inexpensive ways to help make staff members of student publications feel valued and keep staff motivation levels high. Includes additional articles that describe how an editor can support efforts to motivate, suggest that staff retreats lead to success, note how banquets serve as reward, and suggest some favorite…

Describes a Costume Project wherein Australian Grade Six students and Prep students collaborated to produce costumes from paper, which were later paraded by the Preps at the school Opening Evening. (NH)

Summarizes, from a teacher's viewpoint, the benefits of cooperative learning, including increased achievement and improvement of students' attitudes toward school, learning, and each other. Outlines five simple steps for teaching cooperation skills, describes two successful group activities, and shares student reactions to these exercises.…

Describes how secondary teachers can use cooperative learning groups to enhance students' health-related cultural awareness. Students work in teams to complete various activities and projects that introduce them to health problems prevalent among specific U.S. groups and the community health methods used to address the problems. Throughout the…

Describes a mathematics review game that can be adapted to any content topic and which calls for the active participation of all students throughout the activity. (MKR)

As part of a British secondary school's annual three-day special program, one day focused on outdoor problem-solving activities for groups at each grade level. Describes the themes of the day and specific problems undertaken by groups in grades 7-10. (SV)

The Future Problem Solving Program aims to empower potential leaders to manage change successfully. It involves teams of students using a structured, creative problem-solving model to tackle controversial issues for the future; writing scenarios creating alternative futures; and planning for and implementing real solutions to real problems in…

This interview discusses control theory (based on humans' psychological needs for love, power, freedom, and fun) and its potential for transforming students' classroom learning experience. By adopting the teamwork approach used in extracurricular activities, teachers can help students gain satisfaction and a sense of their own importance. (MLH)

A summer course completed by 30 secondary students with high ability provided team-based, hands-on experience in the invention and design process. The group experiences are examined using three case studies. Implications of the course are analyzed with respect to group problem-solving by students with academic talents. (SW)

Presents secondary students' perceptions of cooperative learning (CL) in an attempt to understand how and why CL benefits students affectively and cognitively. After describing the structure of learning and schooling, the article discusses how CL promotes positive interdependence, social skills, work skills, and individual accountability. (SM)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an environmental science program on the development of student attitudes toward selected physical activities and social concepts. The subjects of the study were high school students enrolled in the Florida Environmental Studies Program. The program emphasized observation and experience as…

Cooperative learning is gaining the attention of vocational educators who must prepare students for employment in a workplace increasingly focused on teamwork. It is a model that provides opportunities for students to explore concepts and develop interpersonal skills that enhance their learning. Research shows that cooperative learning promotes…

The feature story in this issue, "Managing the Collaborative Learning Environment," focuses on the growing emphasis on teamwork in the workplace. It discusses how the concept of empowering employees in the workplace is evolving and the benefits--faster decision making, lower costs and absenteeism, higher productivity and quality, and…

Materials presented in this curriculum guide are designed to provide students with the information and skills they need to work effectively in task-oriented groups. The curriculum is presented in eight self-contained units or modules, each of which emphasizes a particular set of group interaction attitudes, knowledge, and skills. These include…