Understanding fear, its causes, and its impact on students can be important for educators who seek ways to help students manage their fears. This paper explores common types of student fears such as performance-based anxiety, fear of failure, fear of being laughed at, and cultural components of fear that impact learning. The cognitive, emotional,…

The new majority of faculty in today's colleges and universities are part-time, yet sizable gaps exist in the research on their needs, interests, and experiences. Further, the peer-reviewed scholarship is largely quantitative. Principally, it focuses on the utility of the adjunct work force, comparisons between part-time and full-time faculty, and…

University education in the United States has become an increasingly global environment. In the classrooms of a modern university students and teachers from literally all corners of the world come together and reshape the face of higher education. Without a doubt the multicultural classroom of the 21st century necessitates fresh pedagogical…

In this interdisciplinary analysis, the authors examine the use of visual images in the college classroom. They share examples and critical reflections that illuminate the strengths and challenges in using this medium to enhance the social context for learning. The use of visual images to develop classroom community and connect learning outcomes…

Personal response systems (PRS)--also called student response systems (SRS), or more commonly, "clickers"--can be a catalyst for transformation of a learning environment from one of silence to one rich in dialogue and interaction. But how is this transformation achieved? In this paper, we present three case studies of instructors who use…

The authors explore both theoretical issues in feminist pedagogy and the politics of the contemporary university classroom. They examine various intersections of gender, power, pedagogical theory, and academic discipline in order to bring greater attention to the struggle many teachers face in "walking the walk" as feminist teachers.

Discusses ways in which college instructors can incorporate both SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) competencies and academic content in classroom teaching, focusing on increased student participation in classroom-management issues, as well as on students' taking more responsibility for their own learning. (MSE)

Shared laughter is a powerful way to reinforce learning, and it helps to make tasks less laborious and threatening. Humor, retention, anxiety; engaging in spontaneous and planned humor; concerns about humor use; and personal humor growth and integration with instruction are discussed. (MLW)

A discussion of women and learning looks first at women's experiences and perspectives about learning and why the university classroom is usually more comfortable for men than for women. It then explores the implications for effective teaching and for creating equal learning environments for men and women. Specific classroom techniques and…

The mnemonic device "ATOMIC" refers to course and lesson design elements that can help make college teaching more effective. It highlights the importance of these design components: audience, arena, ambience, topic, theme, title, objectives, message, methods, materials, involvement, close, and check-up. (MSE)

Environmental issues that can be explored in social science courses include problems with potential to cause serious or irreversible change to an ecosystem or biosphere. Areas for discussion include: environmental attitudes, values, and behaviors; the environmental movement; risk perceptions; and the political economy of the environment and…

In a study of class participation, a survey of 1,059 college students and 49 professors revealed that students perceived seven factors in student participation, four of which were class traits, none professor traits; and that faculty perceived three variables, two class traits and one student trait. Implications of these findings for teaching,…

A discussion of the prevalence of academic cheating in higher education looks at research on the problem and at possible remedies. Difficulties for faculty in enforcing discipline policies are noted. Approaches to creating a culture encouraging integrity include vocal administrative support for ethics, an academic integrity code, classroom…

A university-educated art historian examines her transition to teaching at a small southern college. Challenges faced included a new clientele of students, the metamorphosis from graduate student to content expert, committee demands and overcommitment, and finding a personal niche. Significant benefits of small-college professional life are also…

A discussion of concerns of gay and lesbian college students, based on interviews on one campus, focuses on these issues: understanding and articulating sexual identity; campus and classroom experiences; communication with faculty; and the effects of learning style, classroom content, and research on their lives. Recommendations are made for…