A study at the University of Yaounde (Cameroon) compared male and female student evaluations (n=1,064) of teaching on a range of variables. Variables which maximally distinguished males from females were fairness in grading, overall judgment of the course, organization of individual class sessions, and overall course organization. (Author/MSE)

Two types of feedback are examined, and their use in controlling the processes of instructional development and improvement are discussed. Closed-loop feedback, the most direct, uses immediate feedback about a process or product to make immediate adjustments in it. Open-loop feedback, in which input cannot be changed immediately, uses feedback to…

This paper discusses seven ways in which college faculty can become actively engaged in scholarship about teaching. The seven principle components of teaching are as follows: (1) subject matter expertise; (2) organized presentation of subject matter; (3) concern for curricular relevance and coherence; (4) informing the curricular change process;…

In response to severe budget restrictions and a shortage of qualified graduate students, a basic speech communications course instituted three innovations: use of undergraduate teaching assistants, contiguous scheduling of lecture and breakdown rooms, and the publication of a textbook supplement with detailed activity guidelines and examples. With…

A college-level composition course in English as a second language uses a "freewriting" technique and de-emphasizes rules and structure to emphasize writing strategies. The course is divided into three major segments: drafting, revising, and fine-tuning. In the first segment, students are encouraged to develop fluency by trying a number of topics,…

Developed for use in the automotive mechanics program at Brooklyn High School in the Cleveland suburbs, this course of study is presented as an example of an application of the instructional systems design (ISD) process. Introductory material includes school and program philosophy statements and a general description of the program, which is…

A French language program for Mexican children established by the Franco-Mexican Alliance uses penpal correspondence to motivate language learning. Age-appropriate and balanced learning activities and a well-articulated progression of courses make this a successful approach for children. (MSE)

Discussion of course structure in active learning at the college level looks at ways level and type of structure can be varied and manipulated to meet challenges presented by a diverse student body. Issues discussed include the relationship of structure to cognitive style and development, fitting structure to content and objectives, and what can…

Addresses the problems of teaching the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) in secondary schools. The new statute is difficult to teach because courts have only begun to interpret it and textbooks have yet to include it. Presents a list of resources addressing issues related to the Charter, as well as two ways to teach the Charter. (LS)

Two lessons from comparable undergraduate courses in physics and engineering are analyzed to identify content, issues emphasized, and concepts used. Differences reflecting the pure nature of one field (physics) in contrast to the applied nature of the other are identified. Implications for classroom instruction and for research on college teaching…

Guidelines for learning and teaching structural equation modeling (SEM) in doctoral-level social work educational programs are offered. Essential ingredients of an introductory course, successful and unsuccessful methods of instruction, practical course organization, and integration of the material into the doctoral curriculum are discussed.…

An estate planning course offered in one law school uses simulation to develop legal practice skills. Students take the class without background in taxes, trusts, or estates and must learn the subject area to solve a specific problem, simulating actual practice. Students prepare their own problems and critique each other's work. (MSE)

A joint effort of educators at three Texas universities, this document presents information related to general and specific methods of teaching home economics. The document consists of 12 chapters, an appendix, and 38 references. Chapter 1 gives the history of home economics as a field of study and describes the secondary education courses in home…

Despite the diversity in syllabus design and teaching methodologies for English as a second language, and for second language instruction in general, communicative proficiency is the underlying common goal. Some of the most influential ideas supporting this trend come from the fields of sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, and second…

While vocabulary is the concern of beginning students of English as a second language (ESL) and essays are the focus of advanced students, syntax is the domain of the intermediate course, with an emphasis on sentence combining. One method divides the course into four segments: (1) using, varying, and rearranging connectors; (2) ordering thoughts…