This guide to studying at the Open University concerns the problems of independent learning for the adult student. Working effectively as a student requires clear and realistic goals, support from close contacts at home and work, a business-like approach, and a desire to learn. Study techniques covered are when and where to study, how to read…

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOUR PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUPERVISORS AND CONSULTANTS, SPECIALISTS AND TEACHER EDUCATORS FROM ALL SERVICES OF VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION REPRESENTING 31 STATES AND CANADA, ATTENDED THE SEMINAR WHICH HAD THE PURPOSES OF (1) INFORMING PARTICIPANTS OF THE MANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN…

This description of how to organize a team teaching program begins with a definition of "team teaching" and distinguishes between hierarchic and synergetic teams. The next two chapters describe 10 team teaching programs in operation in elementary and secondary schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Massachusetts, and…

If the disadvantaged student can be encouraged to respond to literature through a variety of student-centered experiences, his cognitive, affective, and creative growth will be greatly stimulated. Teachers can bring into the classroom many titles of contemporary literature which reflect the current concerns of disadvantaged youth. Moreover, an…

I have been responsible for the teaching of a secondary teacher education unit called Educational Issues (EDN 482) for the past seven years, in the Faculty of Education in a small, regional Australian University. A brief look at the map will show how geographically isolated form the main centres of population in Australia, Northern Territory…

Maintains that controversial issues related to social studies can be addressed using a three-step process. Step one consists of expressing the issue as a dilemma. In step two the students analyze every aspect of the dilemma, engaging in discussion and argument. Step three, the class reaches a consensus. (MJP)

Online discussions are an effective method used to enhance interactions among learners and the instructor. The study examined the differences in communication based on whether the discussions were instructor-moderated or peer-moderated and based on whether the classes consisted of undergraduate or graduate students. Results indicate that student…

Purpose: This report seeks to address the preliminary findings from a large-scale study of the different ways in which the asynchronous discussion forum (ADF) is being used in the online learning environment. Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual approach is taken. Findings: The structural and functional variation of the ADF is depicted within…

We examined a novel formative assessment and instructional approach with 89 students in three electrical engineering classes in special computer-based discussion sections. The technique involved students individually solving circuit problems online, with their real-time responses observed by the instructor. While exploratory, survey and…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the benefits and challenges of using a virtual learning community (VLC) as a vehicle for workforce development. This paper argues that VLCs provide a flexible vehicle for workforce development. However, workplace realities may lead to unexpected challenges for participants wanting exploit the…

This paper presents a review of recent research that examines the relative instructional utility of text-based synchronous and asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC). As a mechanism for limiting the number of studies reviewed as well as controlling for emergent technologies, only research published since 2000 was reviewed. The goal was…

The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Project at American River College (ARC) in Sacramento, California, was developed to improve retention rates among underrepresented students in math and science classes with high dropout rates. The project involved a group of 24 paid student Learning Assistants (LA's) who successfully completed the targeted courses…

THE PRINCIPAL EDUCATIONAL GOALS OF AMERICAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES BETWEEN 1833 AND 1964 WERE CIVIC ENLIGHTENMENT AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, ACCOMPANIED AT VARIOUS PERIODS BY MORAL BETTERMENT, VOCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT, OR CURRENTLY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE MAJORITY OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES PROVIDE NOT ONLY MATERIALS, BUT ALSO PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, STIMULATION…

Describes an upper-level undergraduate seminar on race, ethnicity, and social inequality that included an Internet discussion list consisting of over 300 faculty, students, and administrators from around the world. Discusses organizational and pedagogical challenges involved in creating and maintaining the list. (MJP)

A fifth-grade classroom teacher and a reading specialist changed the classroom structure from teacher-centered to student-centered, using flexible grouping, students' choice of literature, student journals, and student-driven discussion groups. They found that students' motivation and interest in reading improved over time. (SM)