Criticizes character education programs that tend merely to present moral values to students, believing this produces socially responsible behavior. Argues listing values is simplistic and ineffective. Recognizes the situational complexity that confounds making moral choices. Suggests character education must contend with value conflicts and guide…

Describes a course in global environmental politics. Argues specialized courses are needed that focus on the economic, social, and political dimensions of environmental problems. Argues such a course should be part of the core undergraduate curriculum. Includes a survey of course topics to prepare students for future challenges. (NL)

Applies educational theories of Paulo Freire to social studies curriculum development and instruction. Contends that education either functions as an instrument to integrate young people into the current system or becomes an instrument to achieve freedom and progress. Argues that social studies teachers and students should become partners in…

Delivering a discussion-intensive curriculum via online instruction can pose a variety of challenges. This article presents an overview of a contemporary issues online graduate course, and analyzes the degree to which the course encouraged feelings of community, a tone of thoughtful and willing reflection, and an overall understanding of…

Inservice training (locally or state provided) is the primary means used to improve teachers' instruction employed in public school districts throughout the United States. Individual states are increasing inclusion efforts in the local schools. Various states have established state-initiated training programs to improve instruction for students…

In 2004, the Ohio Transfer Articulation Guide (TAG) for Education set forth the Professional Education Module to serve as the foundation for preparation into all licensure areas for teachers. A TAG is a transfer module or set of courses approved by the Ohio Board of Regents that provides a standard set of general education courses (such as English…

"Minority children" experience a lot of shifts in their cultural contexts. The author's work as a professional teacher in multicultural classes enabled her to focus on the research questions presented in this article. These questions concern the need for some minority children to achieve equal opportunities in the Norwegian educational…

Increasing numbers of international students studying health sciences in Australia necessitates research into appropriate ways to support cultural diversity in teaching. International students commonly face problems in adapting to culturally different education and health care systems and this complicates the development of the discipline specific…

Presents an overview of the increase in incidents involving censorship in all areas of the United States. (NKA)

Asserts the need for new undergraduate culture studies textbooks that maintain broad historical scope and shed the Western humanistic model. Proposes a "postmodern textbook" less concerned with covering canonical facts than with issues to be discussed and situations to be analyzed. (21 citations) (VWC)

Presents a syllabus for an undergraduate U.S. government course that emphasizes theoretical foundations, institutions, governmental authority, national issues, and the making of public policy. Discusses the various methodologies for the course including traditional lecture-discussion, films, simulations, and readings. Describes in-class…

A survey of 144 New Zealand employers of business administration graduates found the respondents did not believe business graduates and their educational institutions were performing at the level employers desire. Results indicate institutions should concentrate on incorporating employer-desired content into courses, maintaining communication with…

Discusses four major approaches to teaching about controversial issues frequently cited in educational literature: problem solving, public issues, decision making, and moral reasoning. Provides guidelines for structuring large-group discussions, small-group discussions, and debates within these approaches. Includes a list of instructional…

Advocates utilizing an issues-centered approach to teaching controversial political issues in social studies classrooms. Recommends augmenting this approach with the development of a democratic classroom where student views are encouraged and considered. Identifies useful techniques for this approach, including debates, simulations, discussions,…

Attempts to differentiate the characteristics of courses that involve token empowerment from those that involve deeper empowerment. Describes a course where students role-played the part of consultants involved in group work involving global issues. Includes a chart that outlines the components of token and deep empowerment. (MJP)