Evaluates the teaching and learning processes in a computer-supported first-year undergraduate course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Surrey (England). Students saw the workshop delivery as being more interesting, effective, and efficient than lecture-based delivery; help from the tutor was seen as the most…

Describes an undergraduate Psychology of Social Problems course. The course focuses on the psychological aspects of legal abortion for adolescents and women, the consequences of denied abortions on unwanted children, and psychological ramifications of alternatives to abortion. Summarizes student evaluations of the course. (CFR)

Reports the results of a survey of accredited library schools that was conducted to determine the status of literacy studies in their curricula. Highlights include courses on literacy; lectures on literacy as part of other courses; and plans for the future. An appendix includes definitions of six types of literacy. (LRW)

Discusses methods of personalizing the large introductory college psychology class. Contrasts active learning by students with lecturing by professors. Suggests that separating the large class into smaller units can facilitate active learning. Argues that active learning also can be promoted in the large class setting. (SG)

Offers suggestions for improving classroom lecturing in terms of the sender, the content, and the receiver. Provides guidelines for lecture preparation. Explores importance of format, delivery, and timing in presentations. Discusses value of assessing the lecturer and states good lectures attract students, while bad ones drive them away. (NL)

At Dickinson College (Pennsylvania), a workshop approach to teaching introductory physics, in which students alternate hands-on experience and theoretical discussion, has been effective in improving student attitudes toward the subject, helping students master concepts considered difficult to teach, making students comfortable with laboratory…

Collaboration between a public affairs faculty member and an instructional developer resulted in design of a learner-centered large lecture course. Evaluation after three years revealed which elements of the course format generated the most student interest and, in some cases, changed attitudes about learning in college. Suggestions are made for…

Reports findings of ethnographic research into second-language lectures conducted at a university in Hong Kong. Six sociocultural features of second-language lectures are discussed: purposes of lectures, roles of lecturers, styles of lecturing, simplification, listener behavior, and humor. (31 references) (Author/CK)

Discussion of use of the World Wide Web for literary studies focuses on a course on contemporary Canadian literature offered at the University of Northern British Columbia. Highlights include weekly lectures, discussion forum, assignments, evaluations, Web courses versus other distributed learning media such as videoconferencing, and future…

Discusses the development of interactive multimedia learning modules and describes the decisions and processes involved in transforming a traditional lecture in medical sociology into an interactive online learning module at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). Considers method of delivery, including the World Wide Web; media choices; and…

Expounds that "The Geography Discipline Network Guides on Teaching, Learning, and Assessment" that were produced by the English Geography Discipline Network are a worthwhile addition to the efforts to promote geographic literacy. Maintains that there are deficiencies since the guides aim only at individual lecturers and instructors of geography.…

Reports on a study exploring patterns of discourse organization in seminar-type discussions. Analysis was made of patterns of sequential organization in discussions between English for academic purposes students in university seminars in the United Kingdom. Analysis revealed two patterns of organization: simple exchanges of pre-formed ideas and…

First-year students in genetics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, attend two general biology modules, one in each semester. Teaching involves four formal lectures per week of 45 min each, one 3-h practical, and one lecture period tutorial. These students, graduating from secondary education, are well schooled in rote learning but…

This study compared the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) versus lecture-based instruction (LBI) in high school foods and nutrition classes. Two classes were randomly assigned to the PBL group, while the remaining two were assigned to the LBI group. A pretest was administered. During the semester, LBI students received course content…

Introduction: The headmaster of a school (NRMV) in rural eastern Nepal, pleaded for help from the public health Department of Psychiatry, BKIHS, Dharan, Nepal, to prevent closure of his school as guardians of many students refused to send their children to his school, which was supposedly haunted by evil spirits. The author, along with his staff,…