Discusses factors related to developing successful programs for training faculty in various aspects of college teaching, indicating that some tangible advantage for faculty participating in such programs is needed. Illustrates this by showing how a successful program was related to paying faculty one week's salary for attending the program. (JN)

The experiences of a number of institutions using a variety of approaches show that distance education by television can be both instructionally effective and cost effective. Careful attention to five steps in course development (planning, preparation, rehearsal, presentation, and review) can help colleges save time and avoid pitfalls. (MSE)

The major in most colleges has been criticized as little more than a gathering of courses taken in one department, lacking structure and depth or emphasizing content to the neglect of inquiry on which the content is based. This report, based on the "Re-Forming Majors" project of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, presents…

Little effort has been made to combine the "writing-to-oneself" process with an exercise in creative thinking as an effective way to teach any subject or to learn a given subject. A program to combine writing and a creativity exercise to foster learning for students studying basic economics is described. (MLW)

West Chester State College's pilot project to improve writing builds on writing skills established in the freshman English courses and extends these skills through writing practice and instruction in the humanities and other disciplines. Obstacles encountered in developing the program, program design, instructional techniques, and spinoff projects…

This handbook is designed to provide colleges and universities with initial guidance in establishing an appropriate system of indicators of undergraduate instruction, and to build on this foundation by cataloging a range of exemplary indicators of "good practice" that have proven useful across many collegiate settings. It provides a…

A model for the development of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is presented for the college classroom teacher. The following common software design models that have been helpful in developing CAI models are briefly reviewed: composite or structural design model, Jackson model, META stepwise refinement model, and higher-order software model.…

Eastern Michigan University's opportunity program for underprepared students, called the Promote Academic Survival and Success (PASS) program, is described. The improvement of the students' reading and writing skills was emphasized. This was seen as the most direct way for the students' to achieve academic competence and self-integration. (MLW)

The use of computers in higher education instruction is addressed from a pedagogical point of view and is intended as a guide to the integration of computers into instruction in ways that will fulfill the technology's promise and avoid its problems. After an introductory section on the promises and problems of computers, Part One ("Enriching…

A conceptual framework for strategic planning for information technology in colleges and universities is offered. The approach focuses on outcomes of the use of technology, especially for improving individual and organizational performance, rather than the technologies themselves. Three domains of technology are considered: infrastructure,…

The University of Guelph's Office for Educational Practice, an administrative unit for instructional development that relies on faculty volunteer leadership and participation, is described and discussed in the context of research on improvement of instructional effectiveness. (MSE)

One institution's experience in developing and implementing a freshman program is translated into suggestions for others, addressing such issues as faculty involvement, openness of discussion, program objectives, costs, faculty development, experimentation, and mistakes. (MSE)

Prepared by the manager of a virtual reality (VR) laboratory at North Carolina's Haywood Community College, the three papers collected in this document are designed to help instructors incorporate VR into their classes. The first paper reviews the characteristics of VR, defining it as a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional…

Design and implementation of supplemental instruction (SI), a combination of content review and training in study strategies for students in high-risk courses, are discussed. The context here is college-level mathematics instruction. It is noted that SI in mathematics may require more structure than in some other content areas. (MSE)

Writing instruction programs have become particularly important at American colleges and universities in recent years, but it is noted that most college faculties and their administrators need advice about providing useful help to the writing programs. An examination of how to develop successful writing programs is presented. Three sections are as…