A new science program for elementary schools (developed by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) emphasizes concrete experiences, providing students with opportunities to observe phenomena, record their observations, and discuss them with other students. Cooperative learning is a primary program component because it enhances children's ability…

People do not know instinctively how to interact effectively with others. For cooperation to succeed, students must get to know and trust one another, communicate accurately and unambiguously, accept and support one another, and resolve conflicts constructively. A seven-step recommended procedure is outlined. Includes nine references. (MLH)

Describes a high school teacher's initial frustration with a home economics class's unresponsive attitude concerning a cooperative vocabulary exercise. After emphasizing one social skill (encouraging) instead of two, and using modeling and "dry run" practices, this teacher began observing more encouraging student behavior. (MLH)

The Greenwich (Connecticut) Public Schools have developed a six-step cooperative education training design: (1) an overview combined with hands-on experience; (2) training on work time; (3) inschool support; (4) visible and continuing district support; (5) expanded training opportunities to meet increased interest; and (6) development of training…

Discusses three essential components of successful cooperative education programs (commitment, pacing, and support) and offers practical suggestions to teachers, such as arranging groups efficiently, determining group size, deciding how long groups should stay together, and deciding when group learning is appropriate. Teaching social skills is…

Teachers must give adequate attention to teaching social skills and monitoring for total team involvement if they are to introduce cooperative learning successfully. Interpersonal skills are more important than positive interdependence, face-to-face interaction, individual accountability, or group processing skills. Includes five references. (MLH)

Reared in a hierarchical environment, teachers in Germany have had difficulty working with team structures despite the benefit of increased professional autonomy. The Holweide Gesamitschule in Cologne, a large comprehensive high school begun in 1975, developed a plan to diminish big-school anonymity and emphasize cooperation among children of…

Four literature reviews found that cooperative learning methods using group rewards and individual accountability consistently increase student achievement more than control methods in elementary and secondary classrooms. More research is needed to gauge cooperative learning's effectiveness at senior high and college levels and for instilling…

Students in work groups are more active learners and more motivated and enthusiastic about mathematics than students working in achievement groups. Acutely needed are curriculum materials for teachers to use with work groups and greater curriculum coordination across grades. Sidebars provide two lesson synopses for grades three and five. Includes…

Cooperative learning could transform our schools, our communities, and our society. Reexamining classroom reward structures and implementation strategies could provide opportunities for reflecting on content, harmonizing content and process, coordinating cooperative learning with other classroom values, empowering teachers and students,…

Lists 10 basic texts, manuals, and lesson planning guides on cooperative learning, including works by E. Aronson, S. Ellis, D.W. and R.T. Johnson, S. Kagan, and R.E. Slavin. (MLH)

Given the importance of educating for democratic citizenship, the involvement of individual business people with policymaking bodies and task forces is highly desirable. However, schools should limit business involvement to civic-minded contributions free of marketing or advertising hype. To do otherwise betrays the spirit of educational…

Whittle Communications' vaunted Channel One, a news and information station for high school audiences, is long on MTV-style flash and short on true educational value. The best defense against commercially sponsored television in the schools is organized, informed, and sustained resistance by educators, especially teachers. (MLH)

Refutes Joel Rudinow's critique of the Whittle Educational Network, specifically his remarks concerning Channel One's availability, teacher viewing discretion, and commercials. Claims that Channel One has no hidden agenda, but is intended to help teachers dispel teenagers' woeful ignorance of current events, geography, and related subjects. (MLH)

Sustains the criticism leveled at Whittle Communications' Channel One in the same "Educational Leadership" issue. Problems abound concerning school size, viewing discretion, contractual restrictions, and system inflexibility. Also, schools declining to renew the three-year contract retain neither the satellite dish nor the video hardware. (MLH)