Discusses activities for use in multilevel language classes, or in regular classes with students of varying abilities. They include start-up activities suitable for everyone, activities where students perform a task at different levels, and activities that incorporate a variety of different activities. Small group and individual activities are…

Describes a step-by-step process for conducting a small-group activity for intermediate students of French as a Second Language in which the students are asked to create a print advertisement for a new, nutritious snack. The steps include contextualization, brainstorming, establishing criteria, planning the activity, language, and reflection on…

Describes teaching methods employed in German elementary school classrooms that develop discovery, creativity, and a spirit of cooperation in students learning mathematics. Methods included free choice of learning activities by students and small group cooperative activities. Students' motivation, self-confidence, social and communications skills,…

This study compared selected cooperative learning methods (drill and review dyads, cooperative response techniques, and group grading incentives) with traditional learning methods among a group of 61 undergraduates in 2 educational psychology classes. On three of four measures of achievement, the cooperative group showed significantly stronger…

This article describes how collaboration affects the writing process and reports on an experiment involving the use of group and individual journals concurrently in an upper-division college writing course for prospective teachers. It was found that group journals engendered more careful attention to writing performance and greater comprehension…

Examines an eco/social studies approach to environmental education. Suggests that this approach allows students to become nature sensitive and aware of the surrounding environment as they learn about conflicts, issues, and problems related to natural environment; develop knowledge about ecology; understand the relationships between humans and…

Reviews literature on laboratory and field-based studies of cooperative learning, emphasizing field-tested methods that can increase the repertoire of effective teaching methodology. Several cooperative learning methods are summarized: student teams achievement divisions, teams-games-tournament, team-assisted individualization, circles of…

Examines how best to use cooperative learning in preschool classrooms. The article describes young children at play and discusses cooperative play (CP) and the development of social skills, the impact of CP, principles of implementing CP in preschool classrooms, and teacher role. (SM)

Cooperative learning (CL) needs direct instruction, because sitting students in close proximity does not ensure cooperation. The article explains how to promote CL with positive interdependence, individual accountability, and face-to-face interaction. It discusses group activities, explains advantages of CL to all involved, and notes possible…

Studies whether Chinese children are more cooperative, whereas U.S. children are more competitive, using 76 10- to 12-year-old children in each country. Results using the Social Values Task indicate that Chinese children favor strategies that result in equality and group enhancement, and U.S. children favor individualistic and competitive…

Causal attributions of 96 college students' performance in cooperative group assignments, and students' perceptions of the underlying dimensions of causal attributions (including relationships among performance outcomes, attributional dimensions, and attributional consequences) were examined. Locus of causality was related to affective reactions.…

Discusses methods of personalizing the large introductory college psychology class. Contrasts active learning by students with lecturing by professors. Suggests that separating the large class into smaller units can facilitate active learning. Argues that active learning also can be promoted in the large class setting. (SG)

Presented is a teacher's guide for a hands-on activity challenging students to develop problem-solving behaviors by exploring the construction of a right-cylinder of maximum volume from an m x n sheet of metal. Reproducible worksheets leading students through the activity are provided. (MDH)

Describes how fourth graders, together with first graders, planned, wrote, and edited a book of recollections, opinions, personalized stories, and poems. The article discusses the interviews between the fourth and first grade students, the final editing and production of the book, and the publication party. (SM)

Describes three academic group activities used with children or adults in adventure-, challenge-, and experiential-education settings (including classrooms). Includes target group, group size, time and space requirements, activity level, props needed, instructions, ideas for post-activity group processing and reflection, and follow-up activities.…