Browsing by Subject "high school students"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 20
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Academic bridge programs
    (Routledge, 2018) Arendale, David R.; Lee, Nue Lor
    Bridge programs ease the transition of students from secondary education to postsecondary institutions. They are customized to assist a particular subpopulation of students to be successful. They were originally created for students with high rates of academic difficulty and withdrawal than the general student population. Then, the focus of most bridge programs was academic preparation for increased academic rigor of college. In recent years, a variety of purposes have been added: meet the needs of culturally diverse students who are underrepresented in college, increase student success in particular college degree programs, and increase the number of students who aspire and are prepared for college. Bridge programs range from an intensive program of coordinated courses and noncredit learning experiences to a single academic term course or a workshop lasting a day or two.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    EOA best practices clearinghouse directory 2018 (4th ed.).
    (Educational Opportunity Association and the University of Minnesota, 2018) Arendale, David R.
    (Purpose) The purpose of this directory was to identify, describe, and evaluate evidence that the education practices improve academic performance, close the achievement gap, and improve persistence towards graduation for low-income, first-generation, and historically-underrepresented 6th grade through college students. (Method) The sample for the directory was derived from TRIO and GEAR UP professionals located in the upper Midwest region that are affiliated with the Educational Opportunity Association (EOA). EOA and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota created a clearinghouse to disseminate evidence-based practical activities and approaches to improve success of students who are low-income, first-generation, and historically-underrepresented in education. The administrative and education best practices in this publication have been reviewed and approved by multiple members of an external expert panel of qualified reviewers. Each practice has been approved as promising, validated, or exemplary based on the level of evidence supporting it. The rigorous standards applied during the review process are similar to previous national evaluation efforts by the U.S. Department of Education (Results) The approved education practices of this 353 page directory represent each of the five major federally-funded TRIO and GEAR UP programs: (a) Educational Talent Search, “Emergency Field Trip Contingency Plan”, “Program Policies and Procedures Handbook”, “Peer Coaching Handbook”, “Academic Improvement Plan”, “Middle School Summer Curriculum”, (b) Upward Bound, “Upward Bound Senior College Exploration”, “Study Hall Days at a College Campus”, “Podcasting Academic and Career Counseling”, “Academic Advising Management System”, and “Planning Effective Campus Visits”; (c) Educational Opportunity Centers, “Coaching TRIO Students”, “Right Start to College Seminar for Adults”, and “Post service Assessment Tool”; (d) Disability Services, “Access College Today Program”; (e) Student Support Services, “Creating Global Experiences for College Students”, “Advising Syllabus”, “Integrated Approach to the First Year Experience”, “Horizons Study Abroad Experience”, “Procedures for a Study Abroad Program”, “Evaluation Tools for a Study Abroad Program”, “Integrated Learning Course”, “Tutoring for Students with Disabilities”, and “Tutor Training and Professional Development”; (f) Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement, “McWrite: Developing Scholarly Writing Skills”; and (g) GEAR UP, “High School Financial Literacy Curriculum”. (Implications) Rather than looking to others for solutions, the federally-funded TRIO and GEAR-UP grant programs have the expertise needed to solve vexing problems with student success. These programs are incubators of best education practices that can be implemented elsewhere. Detailed information is provided about the education practice purposes, educational theories that guide it, curriculum outlines, resources needed for implementation, evaluation process, and contact information. Educators need to investigate these education practices to discover effective learning practices that can be adapted and adopted for use in supporting higher student achievement, closing the achievement gap, increasing persistence to graduation, and meeting the needs of culturally-diverse and historically-underrepresented students. (Additional Materials) Appended to the directory are: (1) Profiles of TRIO and GEAR UP Programs with Best Practices; (2) EOA Clearinghouse External Expert Panelists; and (3) Procedures for Evaluation of Submissions to the EOA Clearinghouse.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    EOA best practices clearinghouse directory 2019 (5th ed.)
    (Educational Opportunity Association, 2019-12-31) Arendale, David
    The purpose of this directory was to identify, describe, and evaluate evidence that the education practices improve academic performance, close the achievement gap, and improve persistence towards graduation for low-income, first-generation, and historically-underrepresented 6th grade through college students. (Method) The sample for the directory was derived from TRIO and GEAR UP professionals located in the upper Midwest region that are affiliated with the Educational Opportunity Association (EOA). EOA and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota created a clearinghouse to disseminate evidence-based practical activities and approaches to improve success of students who are low-income, first-generation, and historically-underrepresented in education. http://besteducationpractices.org The administrative and education best practices in this publication have been reviewed and approved by multiple members of an external expert panel of qualified reviewers. Each practice has been approved as promising, validated, or exemplary based on the level of evidence supporting it. The rigorous standards applied during the review process are similar to previous national evaluation efforts by the U.S. Department of Education (Results) The approved education practices of this 570 page directory represent each of the five major federally-funded TRIO and GEAR UP programs: (a) Educational Talent Search, (b) Upward Bound, (c) Educational Opportunity Centers, (d) Disability Services, (e) Student Support Services, (f) Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement,; and (g) GEAR UP, The directory is arranged by the following topical areas: (a) Academic Advising and Counseling [Advising Syllabus, Academic Improvement Plan, Academic Advising Management System, Podcasting Academic and Career Counseling for Post 9/11 Veterans, and Student Academic Needs Assessment]; (b) Academic Support [Integrated Learning Course for Entering SSS College Students, Tutoring for Students with Disabilities, Tutor Training and Professional Development, Structured Study Hall Days at College Campus by UB Students, and PAL Group Tutoring Program Training Manual]; (c) Assessment and Evaluation [Post Assessment Evaluation Tool for EOC Programs]; (d) Career Exploration [Senior College Experience for UB Students]; (e) Coaching Students [Coaching TRIO Students and Peer Coaching Handbook]; (f) College Tours and Field Trips [Emergency Field Trip Contingency Plan, and Planning Effective College Tours for High School Students]; (g) Curriculum [High School Financial Literacy, Integrated Approach to First Year College Experience, Summer Enrichment Program Curriculum for Middle School Students, and McWrite: Developing Scholarly Writing Skills]; (h) Disability Services [Access College Today Program]; (i) Global Studies Curriculum and Tour Procedures [Horizons Study Abroad Experience, Evaluation Tools for a Study Abroad Program, Procedures for a Study Abroad Program, and Creating Global Experiences for First-Generation and Limited Income College Students]; (j) Orientation Programs [Right Start to College Seminar for Adult Learners]; and (k) Policies and Procedures [Educational Talent Search Policies and Procedures Handbook. (Implications) Rather than looking to others for solutions, the federally-funded TRIO and GEAR-UP grant programs have the expertise needed to solve vexing problems with student success. These programs are incubators of best education practices that can be implemented elsewhere. Detailed information is provided about the education practice purposes, educational theories that guide it, curriculum outlines, resources needed for implementation, evaluation process, and contact information. Educators need to investigate these education practices to discover effective learning practices that can be adapted and adopted for use in supporting higher student achievement, closing the achievement gap, increasing persistence to graduation, and meeting the needs of culturally-diverse and historically-underrepresented students. (Additional Materials) Appended to the directory are: (1) Profiles of TRIO and GEAR UP Programs with Best Practices; (2) EOA Clearinghouse External Expert Panelists; and (3) Procedures for Evaluation of Submissions to the EOA Clearinghouse. [This directory is a revised and expanded version of ED589760.]
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    EOA national best practices directory 2017 (3rd ed.)
    (Educational Opportunity Association, 2017) Arendale, David R.
    The EOA National Best Practice Center identifies, validates, and disseminates practical activities and approaches to improve success of students who are low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented in education. Rather than looking to others for solutions, the federally funded TRIO and GEAR-UP grant programs have the expertise needed. The key is sharing it more widely and comprehensively with each other. The co-sponsors for the Center are EOA and the University of Minnesota. The administrative and education best practices in this publication have been reviewed and approved by multiple members of an external expert panel of qualified reviewers. Each practice has been approved as promising, validated, or exemplary based on the level of evidence supporting it. The rigorous standards applied during the review process are similar to previous national evaluation efforts by the U.S. Department of Education. More information about the rigorous standards and the external expert panel is contained in Appendix B of this publication. The practices approved thus far by the EOA Center represent each of the five major TRIO grant programs: Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Centers, Student Support Services, and the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Programs. One practice is from a GEAR UP program. For readers unfamiliar with TRIO programs, a short history is provided on the following pages. While the education practices come from TRIO programs, they could be adapted for use with nearly any student academic support and student development program. TRIO and GEAR UP programs are incubators of best practices to serve the needs of historically underrepresented students and the general student population. Readers can use this publication as a guide for implementing the education practices contained within it. Detailed information about the education practices purposes, educational theories that guide the practice, curriculum outlines, resources needed for implementation, evaluation process, and contact information are provided by the submitters of the practice who have practical experience implementing the practices. You are encouraged to contact them for additional information.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    In-Class History Simulation: Mid-1940s India Conference of the Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims
    (2018) Arendale, David
    Students are to seek agreements so that the Jews and Palestinian Arabs have a home. This history simulation takes place before the modern nations of Israel and Jordan were created and recognized by the United Nations. Discard everything known about the conflict in Middle East for the past fifty years. This region had been controlled by the Ottoman Empire until 1922 and then the British managed the area as a “mandate” until the Jews and Palestinian people could create one, two, or more new countries. A major learning objective is to understand the point-of-view of a world leader based on their group’s history. While leaders have their own personalities that impact their style of communication, understanding their country’s history provides deeper influences on their desires for their homeland. The United Nations was added to this simulation to avoid a deadlock between the Jews and Palestinians. The U.N. does have its own agenda which is not necessarily aligned with the desires by individual countries or ethnic groups in this simulation with the Jews and Palestinians. While students share a common Google document among the four or five, a student’s grade is solely depended on their own work. Students are placed into a small group so it is easier to see what other students are doing and perhaps receive some encouragement and ideas. The other small group Google documents are open to view as well. Students write interaThe simulation receives high approval by the students, often listed as their top learning experience. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for over seven years. It has been effectively used in classes of 95 to 25.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    In-Class History Simulation: Mid-1940s Middle East Conference Among the Jews, Palestinian Arabs, and the United Nations
    (2018) Arendale, David
    Students are to seek agreements so that the Jews and Palestinian Arabs have a home. This history simulation takes place before the modern nations of Israel and Jordan were created and recognized by the United Nations. Discard everything known about the conflict in Middle East for the past fifty years. This region had been controlled by the Ottoman Empire until 1922 and then the British managed the area as a “mandate” until the Jews and Palestinian people could create one, two, or more new countries. Students are members of the Middle East Conference negotiation teams representing leaders from the Jews, Palestinian Arabs, and the United Nations. To provide three parties for negotiations, the United Nations was added to avoid deadlock between the groups representing the Jews and Palestinians. Also, it was decided to add the U.N. since their priorities are not always the same for either or both of the other groups in real life. Students know the decisions made will be important for cultural harmony in the region. Students are to focus on the needs of their group. The timeframe for this negotiating session is in the mid-1940s before the Jewish people declare formation of the nation of Israel. A major issue for the simulation is that students must discard their current knowledge of the situation of the Middle East and place them in a different time period when decisions could be made before war was near constant in the region. The simulation receives high approval by the students, often listed as their top learning experience. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for over seven years. It has been effectively used in classes of 95 to 25.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    In-Class History Simulation: WWII Yalta Conference Involving Great Britain, Soviet Union, and the United States
    (2018) Arendale, David; Ghere, David
    Students are members of the Yalta Conference negotiation teams representing leaders from Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States. Students know the decisions made will be important to end World War Two and to shape the post-WWII world. Students are to focus on the needs of their country. Obviously, the decisions agreed by all three countries impacted many other countries not be represented in these negotiations. Simulation Learning Objectives: 1. Connect the historical context for the relationships and previous disputes among the three countries during negotiations at the Yalta conference during World War Two. 2. Recognize how historical context shaped the national goals of each country and their negotiation strategies. How could have events turned out different? What are the forces of history at work that make this process for change so difficult? 3. Assess each nation's success in achieving its goals in the short term and long term. 4. Consider the merits of those goals considering the ensuing historical events. 5. Speculate about new dynamics and possible changed outcomes if the smaller European countries whose fates were heavily influenced by the decisions by the three leaders at Yalta were involved in the negotiations as well. 6. Experience the challenges and skills needed for effective negotiations. Method of Play: Read the separate document on student instructions for more detail. Materials Included in Simulation Packet: 1. Instructor history simulation procedures and PP presentation used to guide students in preparation for and during the simulation. 2. Yalta Conference historical background to be read by students before the simulation and referenced during the simulation. Justification for bargaining positions for each country is embedded within the document. The simulation receives high approval by the students, often listed as their top learning experience. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for over seven years. It has been effectively used in classes of 95 to 25.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Minnesota Public Education - Students and Staff.
    (Minnesota State Planning Agency., 1989) Minnesota State Planning Agency; CURA
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Online History Simulation: Apply Gandhi Protest Principles to a Present Day Protest Issue Curriculum
    (2018) Arendale, David
    This history simulation follows a unit on the nonviolent protest movement in India against the British. Students identify his individual protest activities and sort them into six principles of protest. This creates a toolkit they can use and adapt for a protest issue that is important for their small group. The small group selects a modern protest issue, adds new specific protest activities that fit within the six broad categories, and develops a detailed action plan. This allows the immediate application of what they had just learned in the unit about Gandhi to a real-world issue that they select. Some students report that they have used parts of these plans with their own community activism. The simulation receives high approval by the students, often listed as their top learning experience during the course. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for the past seven years. It has been effectively used in classes of 30 by dividing the students into smaller groups.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Online History Simulation: Contemporary Genocide Investigative Report Curriculum
    (2018) Arendale, David
    There are numerous genocides occurring throughout the world today. Tragically, all of them follow the same ten-stage pattern as outlined from the Genocide Watch website. They follow a predictable pattern that can be recognized early before the persecution and deaths occur. Learning Goal: Understand the common pattern that genocides follow and use that information to predict when and where intervention is needed by the outside world to stop the process before the persecutions and deaths occur. This activity is focused on mastering the ten stages of genocide and not an in-depth study of the genocide. Method: Apply the ten-stage genocide template developed by Genocide Watch to information learned about a present-day genocide. This application of the ten stages to a real-life situation makes clear the systematic steps that genocides follow. Seven genocides were identified and information resources provided for: Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Darfur Sudan, Rohingya Muslims, Rwanda, and Somalia. Students assume the role as an investigator for the International Criminal Court (ICC), https://www.icc-cpi.int/ The establishment of an international tribunal to judge political leaders accused of international crimes was first proposed during the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 following the First World War by the Commission of Responsibilities. The issue was addressed again at a conference held in Geneva under the auspices of the League of Nations in 1937, which resulted in the conclusion of the first convention stipulating the establishment of a permanent international court to try acts of international terrorism. The United Nations have a separate process for investigating similar crimes. The ICC is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague in the Netherlands. The ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. This activity was first conducted during spring 2018. Students had requested opportunity to study other genocides during contemporary times rather than a deeper study of the Holocaust which most have heavily studied in middle or high school. The activity received a median score of 4 (scale range 1, low to 5, high) as a meaningful learning activity. The median score for level of understanding of the ten stages of genocide was 5 (scale range 1, low to 5, high).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Online History Simulation: Mid-1940s India Conference by the Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims
    (2018) Arendale, David
    Before the horrific partition of India in 1947 with the deaths of nearly one million Hindus and Muslims, students serve as members of the India Conference to find a more peaceful solution. They are randomly assigned to one of three negotiation teams representing leaders from the Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims. Students know the decisions made will be important for cultural harmony in the region. Students are to focus on the needs of their religious identity group and also consider the greater good for all current citizens. Among the questions that this simulation explores is whether there were alternatives to the terrible consequences to the power vacuum within India when the British departed and the U.N. decision to create Pakistan without adequate safeguards for safe passage, resolving land ownership, and simply the emotional trauma of splitting apart families, friends, and ethnic group that had lived together for centuries. Over the years, students in this simulation have created options for India preserving its current boundaries and more often actions to spin off one or more new countries. Despite India being composed of many ethnic groups, this simulation focuses only on the Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims. The bargaining positions for these three groups are sometimes more dramatic than reality simply to create a more energized negotiation environment. Many other ethnic groups would have been possibilities, but sake of simplicity only three groups were selected for the history simulation. The simulation receives approval by the students. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for over one year. It has been effectively used in face-to-face and online classes of 30. They often share comments similar to face-to-face Yalta Conference negotiations simulation, some students find this activity a stretch since it relies on creative writing which is unfamiliar for some.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Online History Simulation: Mid-1940s Middle East Conference among the Jews, Palestinian Arabs, and the United Nations
    (2018) Arendale, David
    Students are to seek agreements so that the Jews and Palestinian Arabs have a home. This history simulation takes place before the modern nations of Israel and Jordan were created and recognized by the United Nations. Discard everything known about the conflict in Middle East for the past fifty years. This region had been controlled by the Ottoman Empire until 1922 and then the British managed the area as a “mandate” until the Jews and Palestinian people could create one, two, or more new countries. A major learning objective is to understand the point-of-view of a world leader based on their group’s history. While leaders have their own personalities that impact their style of communication, understanding their country’s history provides deeper influences on their desires for their homeland. The United Nations was added to this simulation to avoid a deadlock between the Jews and Palestinians. The U.N. does have its own agenda which is not necessarily aligned with the desires by individual countries or ethnic groups in this simulation with the Jews and Palestinians. While students share a common Google document among the four or five, a student’s grade is solely depended on their own work. Students are placed into a small group so it is easier to see what other students are doing and perhaps receive some encouragement and ideas. The other small group Google documents are open to view as well. Students write interactive dialogue among the three conference negotiators.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Online History Simulation: Rwanda U.N. Taskforce Rebuilding a Nation after the Genocide Curriculum
    (2018) Arendale, David
    This history simulation follows a unit on the Rwanda genocide in 1994. Students work as a small group team of the United Nations to begin the process to rebuild the country. Before the work can begin, the team must understand the short- and long-term barriers created by the history forces that fostered the genocide. Understanding these history forces presents alternative history narratives that will impede or support change to occur. With the short time frame for the learning activity, the small group will begin to explore the complexity of beginning the healing process for a nation ravaged by this tragic event. A comprehensive reconstruction plan will be required to begin the process of rebuilding a country and a people. The simulation receives approval by the students. As noted above, an evaluation form is completed by the students. It is partially a reflection on what they learned and partially an evaluation with suggestions to change. Often, those changes are reflected in the curriculum which is updated annually. This simulation has been used each semester for over seven years. It has been effectively used in classes of 30 over the past six years.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Online History Simulation: WWII Yalta Conference involving Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States
    (2018) Arendale, David; Ghere, David
    Students take on the personality of Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin at the Yalta Conference representing Britain, Soviet Union, and the United States. On alternating days, each student will assume the personality of one of the three leaders. This is a creative writing activity and can be a challenging experience for some. Students work as individuals though they can see the online work being completed by others. A major objective of this activity is to understand the point-of-view of a world leader based on their country's history. While national leaders have their own personalities that impact their style of communication, understanding their country's history provides deeper influences on their desires for their homeland. Their individual actions reflect their historical culture and values. Three times before the end of World War Two, the leaders of Great Britain, Soviet Union, and the United States met to decide how to bring the war to a quick conclusion and how the world would look after World War Two. Only the top leader from each country was authorized to speak on behalf of their nation's interests. Not only were they influenced by the immediate decisions needed to end the war, but also they were consciously or unconsciously influenced by their nation's history while they negotiated with each other. These meetings sometimes took weeks to complete. During the breaks during the meetings, the leaders conferred with their staff to discuss negotiation strategies. These strategies changed dynamically based on the flow of conversations. Reaching agreements was difficult since it required the unanimous agreement of all three nations. Since two of the three countries (Great Britain and the U.S.) represented democratic political systems, the USSR was naturally suspicious when they both agreed on a negotiating item since they feared it would be harmful to interests of the Soviet Union who employed a totalitarian government system. Learning Goal: Understand the point-of-view of a world leader based on their country's history. While national leaders have their own personalities that impact their style of communication, understanding their country's history provides deeper influences on their desires for their homeland.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Student Perceptions of Caring Adults in Schools: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study
    (2022-06) McGinnis, Jenna
    Although rates of school dropout have decreased over the past few decades, about two million individuals aged 16 to 24 did not complete their high school education in 2019. Notably, disparities exist within the number of students who do not complete their high school education. Given that the United States values higher education and there are well known negative outcomes associated with discontinuing one’s high school education, it is imperative to identify ways to reduce the number of students who do not complete their high school education. One way to do this is increasing the number of protective factors students have by focusing on the relationships with the adults at school. The current study used semi-structured interviews to explore ninth grade students’ relationships with the adults in their schools. Specifically, it investigated if students felt they had at least one caring adult present in their schools and the qualities and actions of those adults that demonstrated that they cared. A thematic analysis across participants highlighted the major themes that were present in the data and specific actions and qualities of teachers (e.g., uses eye contact, asks questions about students’ lives, remembers details about students). Moreover, a phenomenological approach revealed specific ways that participants have felt supported by adults in their school and how school would be different based on the number of caring adults present.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Trading Sex and Sexual Exploitation among High School Students: Data from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey
    (2020-10) Martin, Lauren; McMorris, Barbara; Johnston-Goodstar, Katie; Rider, G. Nic
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Use of Supplemental Instruction at an urban high school
    (National Resource Center for The First Year Experience and Students in Transition, 1992) Martin, Deanna C; Arendale, David R.; Hall, Peggy T.
    In review, the SI program provided the central academic support focus for ninth and tenth-grade students at Westport High School. While not the sole factor, the SI program contributed to increased student performance. After completing the three-year pilot test, the initial results appear favorable. While there has been some difficulty in implementing this comprehensive learning assistance program during the regular school day, the results in improved academic performance and improved student discipline warrant further use of the program. There are a variety of others ways that the program could be implemented in other high schools. Upperclassmen, adult volunteers, parent volunteers, or other persons could serve as SI leaders and supervisors. Strong support from the high school administration and creativity open many opportunities for the adoption of Supplemental Instruction at the high school level.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Video-based Supplemental Instruction: Interactive video courses
    (1998) Martin, Deanna C; Arendale, David R.
    The magical ingredient in the process appears to be the technology that manifests in the form of the videocassette and the remote control device. This technology enables the student to alternate between the professor's lecture and the silence in which to consider the meaning. The moments of silence are precious. Silence offers the student a rare commodity in the context of a classroom: time to think. And the reflective time allows the student to form questions, observations, and opinions. Those, then, are shared with fellow students. Confusion is resolved; conflicting views are weighed; differences are explored. Students leave the session with clearly defined questions and a sense of what to do next.