The principles of positive psychology have been studied for many years, but it seems to be only recently that the benefits of these techniques are being accepted by the wider community of mainstream educators. In this article, we first describe the principles of positive psychology, primarily through the work of Martin Seligman. Then we highlight…

Over the last decade, an increasing number of postsecondary education (PSE) programs have been developed for students with intellectual disability (ID). This case discusses one such program. Along with the courses designed to meet the specific needs of students with ID, the program also permits these students to take courses in the various…

Two-year college (TYC) physics teachers are not often required to provide student research experiences as a part of their contracted duties. However, some TYC physics faculty members are interested in developing research opportunities for their freshman- and sophomore-level students, often called "early undergraduate research" (EUR).…

This ground-breaking book is the first to describe in detail how teachers, supported by university educators and education advisers, might plan and implement innovative ideas based on sound theoretical foundations. Focusing on the teaching and learning of intercultural communicative competence in foreign language classrooms in the USA, the authors…

First-year university students are a diverse group of individuals with various abilities and needs. Failure of the university and its teaching faculty to meet the needs of first-year students may result in abandonment of the pursuit of a degree. This project informs instructors about the practices that strengthen a learning-centred approach and…

This Toolkit forms part of the project entitled "Time for a New Paradigm in Education: Student-Centred Learning" (T4SCL), jointly led by the European Students' Union (ESU) and Education International (EI). This is an EU-funded project under the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) administered by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture…

This guide is based on a project titled "Shaping the Preparation of Future Science and Mathematics Faculty," a 4-year effort supported by the National Science Foundation. This volume contains lessons learned by faculty members, graduate students, and academic administrators who established innovative programs as part of the initiative. The…

Chapters in this guide provide practical guidance and useful information and resources relating to important aspects of faculty development, from setting up a faculty development program to assessing teaching practices. The chapters are: (1) "Faculty, Instructional, and Organizational Development: Options and Choices" (Robert M. Diamond); (2) "Ten…

For faculty members to perform at the highest levels of excellence institutions must design and implement an array of appropriate incentives and support systems effective for different faculty needs and characteristics. Collegiate and corporate illustrations are provided. (Author/MSE)

This descriptive study investigated the benefits and costs of using electronic portfolios (EPs) in preservice teacher education. Grounded within change theory, the study examined the perspectives of faculty in six programs in which EPs have been used on a large scale for two or more years. Benefits identified include increased opportunities for…

This paper describes the development and implementation of a teacher reward system based on merit that was used at the University of Nebraska. Explained are the organizational set-up of the program into operational groups and their responsibilities and the steps taken to establish interest and commitment in the project. Also discussed is the…

This manual provides an overview of the concepts and issues involved in the assessment of prior learning in the context of the increasing numbers of older, nontraditional students returning to higher education. Section 1 gives background information about prior learning assessment (PLA) and defines PLA as assessment by some valid and reliable…

Colleges using the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education were surveyed concerning the usefulness of the principles and the faculty and institutional inventories designed for measuring their application. Respondents indicated a need for clearer information about potential and actual uses. (Author/MSE)

Uses of the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education and Faculty and Institutional Inventories by Alverno College (Wisconsin), American Association of State Colleges and Universities, College of Marin (California), Columbia College (Michigan), University of Maryland, and Wayne State College (Nebraska) illustrate their…

Institutionalizing the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education and the Faculty and Institutional Inventories will require teachers and institutions to overcome obstacles to change, develop new perspectives for improving education, and apply strategies of planned change, including creating and sustaining a leadership team.…