"The First-Year Seminar: Designing, Implementing, and Assessing Courses to Support Student Learning and Success," a five-volume series, is designed to assist educators who are interested in launching a first-year seminar or revamping an existing program. Each volume examines a different aspect of first-year seminar design or administration and…

We describe the development of a course to teach modeling and mathematical analysis skills to students of biology and to teach biology to students with strong backgrounds in mathematics, physics, or engineering. The two groups of students have different ways of learning material and often have strong negative feelings toward the area of knowledge…

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…

Based on a National Council for the Social Studies position statement on the essentials of social studies, a rationale for teaching about religions in the social studies is presented. The author's rationale includes the following points: (1) that knowledge about religion is not only characteristic of an educated person but also necessary for…

The social studies core curriculum presented in this guide represents those standards of learning that are essential for all grade 7-12 students in the state of Utah. For each secondary social studies course, core standards are established, as well as the objectives that should be used to meet the standards. The following courses are covered for…

Designed to assist community college instructors in the development of objectives for a course or program, this guidebook applies Bloom's Cognitive Taxonomy to the process of writing objectives. First, a short preface underscores the importance of instructional objectives in the design and delivery of education. Next, part I provides a pre-test on…

This document lists skills in the area of reading considered essential for pupils in Kentucky to progress to the next higher level of achievement. The skills are listed according to grade, and grades 1 through 12 are covered. The skills are described in terms of behavioral objectives. Students at the lower levels are expected to be able to perform…

Elements that might be included in a course syllabus are discussed, and reasons for a well-written syllabus are briefly noted. The following syllabus elements are covered: course description, course objectives, course structure, textbook and required materials, recommended optional materials, course schedule, deadlines, evaluation methods, policy…

Texas, through a recent state legislative mandate, has initiated educational reform for its public school system and teacher education programs in colleges and universities. To implement this reform, the Texas Educational Agency has developed essential elements that are required to be integrated into such courses as the visual arts for a…

This syllabus is a statement of the goals and objectives of the New York State grade 12 social studies program for the study of the U.S. government. The first section of the syllabus lists goals for elementary, secondary, and continuing education and the overall goals of the grades 7-12 social studies program, while the second section outlines the…

This document is a decision-making tool on the instructional process in Mississippi. It attempts to standardize curriculum content by identifying core skills that must be included in subject areas in kindergarten through grade 12. Subjects covered are reading, English/language arts, mathematics, art, computer education, foreign languages, health…

By taking a two-semester course in theatre, students in grades 10 through 12 can gain a better understanding of drama. Theatre I provides an overview of the field of theatre and serves as a prerequisite to all further theatre courses. Upon completion of the first course, students should be able to (1) respond aesthetically to theatre; (2)…

Major functions of teaching assistants (TAs) and innovative methods are proposed. TAs help students learn through interaction, coach students in higher thinking skills, and provide a communication channel to integrate the course. A course planning guide based on performance objectives and classroom activities to stimulate student participation are…

A course entitled "Schools and Democratic Society" was prepared between September, 1992 and March, 1993 as the result of a cooperative effort between the Polish Ministry of National Education and the Mershon Center of The Ohio State University. This document presents the rationale for the course. As Poland moves through the transition…

This instructional guide for Alberta's (Canada) secondary school program in French second language instruction presents instructional plans and describes specific classroom techniques and activities for listening comprehension and oral production. Section 1 outlines the overall objectives and structure of the program. Section 2 addresses the…