This guide is intended for teachers who want to learn more about educational design of college courses. Chapter 1 identifies various pressures for change in designing courses and urges creation of conditions that foster deep learning. Chapter 2 examines various models of the course design process. Chapter 3 discusses beliefs, values and ideologies…

Provides a general strategy for planning, developing, and teaching applied courses, suggesting that a variety of sociology courses can be designed around an applied focus. Describes the various stages of creating the applied course, illustrating exemplary actions to be taken. (KO)

Based on the assumption that good teaching helps students understand how to actively acquire, use, and extend knowledge in an ongoing learning process, this guide presents strategies for constructing learning-centered course syllabi. Following prefatory materials, part 1 reviews implications of shifting from traditional syllabi, which focus on…

Explains the approaches taken by higher education institutions for instruction of environmental content. These include changes in course content, the development of specific environmental courses, and the development of a planned curricula that emphasizes environmental education. (ML)

Describes the Syracuse University Technology Clusters aimed at building a science foundation, knowledge of technological advances, and decision making about technology use for liberal arts majors. Discusses enrollment, course structure, student characteristics, and future development. (JM)

A teaching method is described and illustrated that begins with the presentation of a basic dialogue containing new learning material and progresses to the group's acting out its own dialogues and discussing them with the class. The objective is to lead learners from understanding new material to using it creatively and, ultimately, for their own…

There are cognitive, social, personal, and practical reasons for studying a second language, and the syllabus is shaped by these and the identity of the learners, general and specific course objectives, educational principles, course components, learner input, and student evaluation procedures. A dynamic syllabus addresses four language competence…

Describes the practical problems encountered by one group of people, in one institution, when different disciplines were combined in the production of a course about the theory of curriculum design. (Author/RK)

Differences in educational practice and culture of a British distance university and Australian traditional university are the basis for analysis of curriculum development methods. It is proposed that, although generally individual faculty design new courses, there are good reasons (efficiency, cohesiveness, professional development, academic…

Discusses the objectives of secondary school history instruction in Lithuania. Presents a comprehensive topic syllabus of world and Lithuanian history as currently taught in all Lithuanian schools. Includes selected titles from the 390 lessons allotted to the topics. (CFR)

The six editions of this newsletter provide a forum for the sharing of research findings and instructional strategies by faculty of Western Michigan University on issues connected with critical thinking. Topics addressed include alternative program designs for critical thinking instruction, a philosophical exploration of what critical thinking is,…

The article offers the suggestion that interdisciplinary units can be maximized if they include some form of focusing experiences as part of the module and gives some tips on developing such a unit. (Author)

A course of study in social psychology should progress from the personal to the social. It should be organized around the study of four topics: (1) the boundaries of the self; (2) the relation between individuals; (3) communication between individuals; and (4) leadership and social power. (Author/RM)

Presents a design for a workshop modeled after the engineering design process. A step-by-step approach is suggested for each aspect of the design process. (SA)

It is proposed that a course on the Freedom of Information Act of 1966 is shaped largely by one question: how does the rhetoric behind the law match the reality of its operation? Issues such a course can address are identified, and possible course formats and teaching materials are discussed. (MSE)