The Teaching Information Processing System (TIPS) uses computer monitoring of student progress to individualized instruction in large lecture classes. (DE)

In order to understand the dynamics of ethnicity as it operates in the United States, students in a sociology course on minorities combined theoretical material with an analysis of the distinctive group patterns in the region. (Author/DE)

As part of an introductory sociology course students examined social problems from the three perspectives of common sense, journalism, and sociology. They explored these perspectives outside the classroom through various activities which included a questionnaire of their own common sense thoughts, interviews, and readings. (Author/DE)

Describes a case study of educational innovation in an introductory college sociology course. Generalizes about problems encountered in academic innovation on the basis of this experience, including the difficulty of working with student opinions, disagreement about effective evaluation techniques, and lack of interest in innovation due to the low…

Research shows that films can be effective in engaging the interest of students in an appealing manner. States that, with the growth of video cassettes, feature films should become an economical and more widely employed teaching medium. Suggestions for using films in education are given and sociologically relevant films in 39 categories are…

Discusses typical first days of college courses. Describes a first day activity called "Who is the Professor?" that challenges students' expectations about learning and motivates students to wonder about social life. Presents a modification of the activity and considers suggestions, limitations, and challenges. (CMK)

Evaluation of innovative teaching of introductory sociology using selections from 15 novels and one play as supplementary reading material. (Author/ND)

Four teaching devices designed to demonstrate the social process of labeling mental illness were used in different teaching settings. (Author/ND)

Use of the format of a congressional hearing, instead of traditional teaching methods, appears to enhance direct student involvment, interest, and knowledge. Described are the social setting and procedures, research protocol, analysis and evaluation, and conclusions and limitations of the experiment. (KM)

Provides 11 teaching guidelines for presentation of sociological material to medical students and addresses the problems of dense scheduling and competition for time in a medical school curriculum. Considers career implications for sociologists in this setting as well as resources available. (NL)

Offers a description of innovations in the sociology program at Santa Clara University (California) focusing on the three stage approach to program improvement: (1) mission/vision; (2) time budgets (continuity between goals and effort); and (3) effectiveness. Discusses additional lessons that may be useful for other campuses. (CMK)

An integrated sociological learning effort in which students take all their work in one semester from a team of sociology professors is described. The course includes simulation games, a two week intensive human relations lab, extensive field trips, and individualized projects. (Author/DE)

Examines the core features of a group of related instructional strategies called modularized instruction. Key among the features is the extent to which modularized instruction makes explicit the dimension of the teaching/learning process. Several models are constructed and evaluated for the degree to which they remove ambiguity. (Author/DB)

Presents several arguments and strategies for using films about war and peace in introductory sociology and social problems courses. Addresses the practical problems of cost, scheduling, and locating appropriate resources. An appendix provides an annotated list of effective films, videos, and slide shows. (Author/BSR)

A teaching program designed for beginning sociology students is described. Using a computer, students are introduced to sociological research methods and techniques by examining crude birth rates and per capita income in various countries. (ND)