Syllabus designers and materials writers in developing nations must treat English for specific purposes as a language-policy solution to language-policy problems. They must familiarize themselves with sociopolitical factors affecting course design and subsequently the relevance of courses produced. Examples are illustrated through a case study of…

Two faculty members from Volunteer State Community College (Tennessee) were assigned the charge to design an institution-wide faculty training and development program for distance learning. The approach to planning began by reexamining the evolution of their use of technology, culminating in online course delivery. This paper explores the…

A needs assessment that addressed teacher candidates, education faculty, and mentor teachers led to a funded initiative in the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers in Technology (PT3) program. This PT3 Project established a Collaborative Community of Learners as the social context for K-12 mentor and student teachers and university faculty to plan,…

This paper reports on the development, design, and initial field testing of a narrative simulation, "'This Just Is!' Jeff's Story," that focused on homophobia and adolescent suicide. The initial field test was conducted with two user groups--a graduate class of professionals in the field of higher education student development, and a…

This paper presents a content analysis of doctoral dissertations in the field of educational technology from 1977 through 1998. Specific research questions include major research themes, how the themes have changed, how the research methodologies have changed, and research trends. The author's "Doctoral Research in Instructional Design and…

Maintains that western civilization's emphasis on dualistic thinking combined with a tendency to favor the cerebral/rational over the physical/emotional has resulted in music education stressing theory over the experiential pleasure of music. Synthesizes a number of influences into a more balanced set of universal principles for music education.…

Provides middle-level teachers with suggestions for evaluating their classroom environment to guarantee a positive classroom climate that will enable students to develop a positive self-concept and achieve academically. Presents six evaluative factors that address challenge, freedom, respect, warmth, control, and success issues. (SD)

Describes an undergraduate religion course at Brigham Young University (Utah) in which seven learners pursuing an online baccalaureate degree were invited to join 49 on-campus students. This case study presents an evaluation of the course based on interviews with distant learners, on-campus students, and instructors. (MES)

Details how to begin designing, implementing, and evaluating educational media in the geography classroom. Describes an approach to educational multimedia design focused on a coherent set of multimedia design standards informed by an understanding of evaluation functions. Includes illustrations from multimedia instructional screens. (MJP)

Identifies barriers to the improved effectiveness of adjunct faculty teaching of adult learners. Addresses three categories of skills and attributes essential for the adult educator: interpersonal skills, instructional planning skills, and teaching and learning transaction skills. Considers on-the-job training, in-service training, and graduate…

A survey of instructional development practitioners at 51 Canadian universities investigated the perceived potential of 36 specific practices for improving teaching. Greatest potential was seen in faculty incentives (appointment, tenure, promotion). Administrator support of effective teaching was viewed as important, as were support structures…

A system to monitor student reactions to what is occurring on a computer screen is described. The system produces a split-screen image of the computer screen and the student's physical (facial and bodily) and verbal responses. It was developed to help improve an independent-study prototype for a finance course at Pennsylvania State University.…

Describes a teaching experiment that evaluated published supplemental materials used to aid preparation of lessons at the fourth grade level involving nonroutine word problems. Lists 12 insights gained that can be useful to teachers using commercially produced problem-solving materials. (MDH)

Supports recent efforts of the Bradley Commission on History in the Schools and the National Commission on Social Studies in the Schools to increase the amount of history taught in the U.S. public schools. Suggests ways the Organization of American Historians and the American Historical Association can contribute to this effort. (SLM)

Suggests incorporating reading, writing, and social studies within the context of literature. Includes reading lists and activities for teaching about the Victorian period in a two-month social studies unit that incorporates science fiction, mysteries, and fairy tales. Children discuss old photographs, examine artifacts, visit a Victorian mansion,…