This monograph examines the nature of active learning at the higher education level, the empirical research on its use, the common obstacles and barriers that give rise to faculty resistance, and how faculty and staff can implement active learning techniques. A preliminary section defines active learning and looks at the current climate…

This paper outlines a method of transforming traditional learning methods into a competency-based approach in a series of steps. The paper is organized in three sections. The first section defines competency-based education (CBE) and explains how this approach differs from traditional education. It also advances reasons why the competency-based…

Elements of good teaching and ways to master effective teaching techniques are examined, drawing on direct observation, the literature, and student accounts of outstanding professors. A model of effective college teaching that includes nine styles of classroom instruction is proposed. The dramatic and interpersonal aspects of teaching and the…

A new look at the standard lecture/discussion format for the large introductory college course is offered, along with suggestions to upgrade its quality. Foci for improvement include organization of lecture material, teacher-student interaction, lecture delivery, feedback, discussion group supervision, and course evaluation. (JMD)

Argues that the fragmentary nature of mass media has made students suspicious of the traditional lecture format. Recommends that history teachers incorporate questions concerning source material and knowledge (e.g. How do I know this?) into their presentations. Suggests a number of activities and texts that can be used to involve students in…

A college teacher describes his approach to student subject-area writing, which includes assignment of several short papers to be written according to carefully prescribed guidelines (appended to the article), clear grading criteria, high expectations, availability for individual conferences, rewards for improvement, encouragement of writing for…

Reports on a study that contrasted learning outcomes of students in a class that incorporated computer assisted instruction (CAI) exercises with those of a lecture-only class. Students in the lecture-plus CAI class scored higher than those in the lecture-only class, specifically regarding material covered in the class. (MJP)

Asserts that a recent report suggests that students should have opportunities to become actively engaged in the application of economics. Finds that the case method approach was more useful than texts and lectures in learning about institutional arrangements, the use of economic data, and how to use economics to solve real problems. (CFR)

This paper presents a study that examined the effect of an attribution induction on students' performance on a subsequent achievement test. The study was conducted to determine whether an instructor might inculcate desirable attributions as part of a regular classroom interaction and thus improve academic performance in at-risk students. College…

In an effort to curb high first-year attrition rates and to motivate students from a state of passive learning to one of active participation, Bergen Community College implemented a program of peer teaching-learning and group inquiry strategies in a preclinical dental hygiene course. To determine freshman students' learning styles, the following…

A practical reference guide for educators who teach large classes is presented, based on a workshop on improving teaching and learning in large classes. The workshop involved weekly meetings for a year at Colorado State University. The following problems of teaching and learning in large classes were identified: social and physical control, class…

Suggestions to help faculty discover ways of achieving interactive, investigatory, and intimate learning environments in large settings are provided. The instructional objective is to empower students to take responsibility for their own learning. (MLW)

This book offers "survival" advice for faculty newcomers, organizing the discussion under the actual categories of work in which faculty typically engage. Chapter 1, "Institutional Environment and the Academic Community," examines the culture of an academic institution and how faculty newcomers become acculturated or socialized…

Describes a two-week lesson on electric fields that combined lecture, interactive video, lab experimentation, computer spread sheets, and computer-assisted-graphing. (PR)

Individualized instruction optimizes time spent by student and teacher for the greatest benefit of both. Most instructional time is currently spent lecturing. By replacing live lectures with recorded lectures, the teacher is free to provide personal, individualized instruction to each student. An effective one-to-one student-teacher ratio is…