Intended for administrators and policy makers, as well as teachers, this digest examines the current state of humanities instruction and the evolving place of humanities in the high school English classroom. The digest first explores differing definitions of the humanities, and discusses reasons for the decline in emphasis on humanities…

Trends and issues related to arts and humanities in adult and continuing education can be categorized in three ways: ways of knowing, informal sites of learning, and cultural pluralism. The arts and humanities are vehicles for critical reflection, and they present paths to the individual construction of knowledge that are intuitive, relational,…

Instructional packages dealing with a single conceptual unit of humanities subject matter can be used to infuse humanities education into vocational curricula. The development of such modules must begin with a firm foundation to insure the success of the project. Steps in the preparation for module development should include determining the…

Describes nine ERIC documents, selected specifically for secondary and college-level history teachers, and provides ordering information. The documents cover such topics as teaching about the U.S. Constitution, Asian studies, writing strategies in advanced placement history courses, the Northwest Ordinance, and critical thinking. (GEA)

Because of the perception that the humanities lack practical application to real problems and issues of many adults, they tend to be neglected in adult and continuing education programs/courses. In reality, the humanities can offer insight into the ways people view and interpret life's events. Several major trends in continuing education suggest a…

In 1983-84, the Center for the Study of Community Colleges developed and field tested an instrument, the General Academic Assessment (GAA) student survey, to assess community college students' knowledge in several liberal arts areas, including the humanities. The GAA was completed by a sample of 8,024 students at four large, urban community…

Provides an annotated bibliography of ERIC resources available for study of both content and process in social studies. Includes Lynne V. Cheney's "American Memory," a study of the status of humanities education in the nation's public schools, as well as Nancy Hutchinson's analysis of Glaser's theory of the role of knowledge. (LS)

Drawing in many cases from documents in the ERIC junior colleges collection, cites examples of programs using four approaches to integrating the humanities into occupational curricula: interdisciplinary courses; specialized courses for targeted occupations, humanities modules in use and in production, and use of resource materials or people. (AYC)

Traditionally, humanities instruction at two-year colleges has been identified with transfer education. Since enrollments are decreasing in humanities classes, the future viability of the humanities curriculum will depend on providing humanities instruction to vocational students. This fact sheet discusses some obstacles to changing the humanities…

This volume presents a framework for teaching eighth grade U.S. history up to 1830 using an integrated humanities perspective that includes art, architecture, literature, religion, music, and dance as applied to everyday colonial life. The 28 activities are presented in standard format, including a brief introduction, list of objectives, time…

Presents a case for incorporating humanities instruction into the study of literature and suggests activities by which teachers can go beyond literary devices in individual works to encompass the humanistic components of the cultures that produced them. (EL)

In spring 1986, the Center for the Study of Community Colleges analyzed the class schedules of 95 randomly selected two-year colleges to determine the types of liberal arts courses offered by the colleges and to spot changes in the curriculum over the past 11 years. Study findings included the following: (1) the humanities made up 48% of the total…

This handbook offers guidelines to community colleges interested in the formation of advisory committees to the humanities. It begins by outlining the purposes and functions of such groups. It then emphasizes the importance of faculty and administrative support for advisory committees and suggests evidence that can be presented to promote this…

Reviews the most recent ERIC literature concerning the status of the liberal arts and humanities in community colleges; efforts to link the liberal arts with the world of work; interdisciplinary and other nontraditional humanities courses; liberal arts students; and honors programs. (AYC)

This ERIC Digest outlines what world history is and why and how world history should be implemented into social studies curricula. The Digest offers suggestions on how to improve the study of world history in schools. Topics discussed in the Digest include: "What Is World History?"; "Why World History in the School…