For the past decade, MDRC has evaluated a number of interventions designed to improve the outcomes of community college students, including enhanced counseling, learning communities, and financial incentives. Encouragingly, many of these strategies have produced positive effects, affirming that changes in institutional practices and policies can…

An interdisciplinary physiology and pharmacology course presented by the Medical Interaction Laboratory at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine provides interaction among faculty, conserves faculty time and animal expense, and presents a coordinated laboratory experience. (BH)

This paper describes the content, techniques, and benefits of a life history course, which was designed to extend the traditional goal of psychological development through autobiography into a spiritual context. The three major components of the course are described. The format of the lectures is presented, focusing on concepts, ideas, and tools…

Focusing on the practical applications of content area writing, and programs using writing assignments in all areas of the college curriculum, this serial issue has three sections. The theme article, "Writing across the Curriculum," discusses the writing across the curriculum movement, and examines ways two colleges have incorporated…

Describes university courses of study in physics in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Provides areas of concentration, special notes, and contact point for further information. (JM)

Describes university courses of study in physics in Scotland. Provides areas of concentration, honors degree courses, course structure, notes, and contact point for further information. (JM)

Values and value awareness are central dimensions of the philosophy program at LaGuardia Community College. The broad and fundamental values of the program include the development of self-awareness, the recognition and overcoming of confusion and alienation, and the emergence of clarity and integration. Philosophy (seen as the process of critical…

Describes technology-oriented courses or programs at five institutions of higher education. Course/program objectives and format, instructional strategies, and types of learning experiences offered to students are considered. (JN)

This instructional task/competency package is designed to be used in combination with the "Industrial Arts Guide to Competency Based Education Implementation" in order to implement competency-based education in the Woods Technology I and II courses in Virginia. The task/competency package contains suggested task sequence listings, content…

Because of a consistently high failure rate of freshmen in a required introductory biology course, numerous strategies to improve the success rate of students without compromising academic standards were explored. The major underlying cause of lack of success was perceived to be the level of thinking skills possessed by the incoming freshman. The…

Described is a biochemistry program designed for highly motivated secondary students entering their junior or senior years. The course was organized around lecture-discussions, laboratories, and a research project. Student course achievement and evaluation feedback appear to imply that the biochemistry program was successful. (Author/MA)

In an effort to identify characteristics of effective college composition programs, an examination was made of 19 campuses of the California State University. Each English department chair was sent a "fact sheet" requesting program information on such matters as the use of placement test scores, sequence of and prerequisites for lower…

For many years, St. Louis Community College at Meramec has offered two distinct sets of foreign language courses: day and evening credit courses on elementary and intermediate levels and noncredit, adult evening classes on elementary I and II levels. The 10-week adult courses were usually taught by part-time instructors, although full-time faculty…

Discussed is the idea that scientific illiteracy among scientists lies at the heart of the problems with undergraduate science education. Included is a description of a science literacy course for nonmajors and a proposed list of the most important ideas underlying science. (KR)

The course outlines contained in this book were developed to assist business educators with the implementation of competency-based instruction in Virginia. The outlines are for courses in accounting, business data processing, clerical accounting, and recordkeeping occupations. Each outline is composed of a course description; a listing of skill…