Cosmology education has become an integral part of modern physics courses. Directed by National Curricula, major UK examination boards have developed syllabi that contain explicit statements about the model of the Big Bang and the strong observational evidence that supports it. This work examines the similarities and differences in these…

The described study investigated the effectiveness of an e-learning Web 2.0 course redesigned from the perspective of cognitive load theory. The analyzed variables were course wiki design features, levels of instructor support, levels of cognitive load and engagement, and values students placed on particular pedagogical approaches used during…

Raising attainment has become an over-riding concern for politicians and educational administrators on both sides of the Atlantic. The public perception, often generated by adverse reports in the media, is of declining educational standards. However, it is often difficult to compare standards across time and between countries since assessments do…

University course evaluations are replete with student comments expressing frustration with taking time out of work, paying money for, and putting energy into field education projects that lack authentic "real-world" problem-solving objectives. Here, we describe a model for field school education that borrows on pedagogical tools such as…

Continuous quality improvement is the clarion call across all business schools which is driving the emphasis on assessing the attainment of learning outcomes. An issue that deems special attention in assurance of learning outcomes is related to consistency across courses and, more specifically, across multiple sections of the same course taught by…

In this paper we perform text analysis on the new Cross Thematic Curriculum Framework Syllabus Design for compulsory education, which was constructed by the Hellenic Pedagogical Institute and is soon going to be applied in Greek schools. This curriculum text is treated as a policy text which introduces important changes in Greek school practice,…

In this article we provide an analysis of the way in which we have designed and implemented an interdisciplinary service-learning course that overcomes the institutional barriers that often hinder creative collaboration in postsecondary environments.

The authors discuss the results of a content analysis of 14 syllabi of introductory courses on spirituality in counseling. Course syllabi were examined to determine trends in the content of these courses and to determine if the instruction is consistent with 9 competencies developed at the Summit on Spirituality. Results suggested that there was…

This article examines the role of genre in English language syllabus design, with reference to a project in Bahrain secondary schools. It attempts to show how, through a carefully devised and conducted qualitative study in ethnographic mode, a syllabus was developed which placed genre at its centre. It also attempts to illuminate how issues…

An exploratory study conducted at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada between 2007 and 2009 investigated language learning with mobile devices as an approach to augmenting ESP learning by taking learning outside the classroom into the real-world context. In common with findings at other community colleges, this study identified inadequate…

Described and evaluated is a course structured around SPSS (the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences) that helps psychology students review what they have learned in an introductory statistics course and apply these quantitative skills to other courses. Student evaluation showed that course objectives were met. (Author/RM)

A computer is used to individualize student assignments in statistics. The principal benefit of individualized activities is that they emphasize decision-making processes rather than correct answers. Students in an individualized assignment group scored higher on an examination than those in a comparison group. (RM)

The paper provides a concise overview of the key issues in needs analysis and its role in syllabus design.

Describes a freshman laboratory program designed to interface between the substances that surround students in their ordinary lives and abstract principles presented in chemistry classrooms. Course organization is based on the nature of the materials themselves, which include household chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, food and beverages, pills…

Briefly presents reasons for unwarranted acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), gives highlights of survey findings about CAM in the curricula of U.S. medical schools, and describes a course at Stanford University School of Medicine that approaches CAM with skepticism and critical thinking. Concludes with thoughts about needed…