Most late policies involve some type of initial large deduction when an assignment is late, followed by subsequent deductions around a certain interval. In many cases, instructors will select 24 hours as their interval. While this type of late policy is common, it can be criticized for being too punitive. Moreover, large intervals can encourage…

This paper describes an innovative and replicable approach to teaching qualitative research through archived oral histories. Undergraduates with no research experience were able to pursue individual research questions and prepare a public conference presentation within one semester. In so doing, this approach overcame the barrier of a shortened…

Active learning involves students engaging with course content beyond lecture: through writing, applets, simulations, games, and more (Prince, 2004). As mathematics is often viewed as a subject area that is taught using more traditional methods (Goldsmith & Mark, 1999), there are actually many simple ways to make undergraduate mathematics…

This article describes a unique interdisciplinary course on social media and the self developed and taught by the authors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The article describes challenges facing humanities faculty who wish to teach on topics with high societal currency and student interest. Current research into humanistic approaches…

In this teaching reflection, the author discusses the benefits of incorporating learners' input into classroom content design, starting with the syllabus, to invite a more democratic learning process. She suggests four guiding questions teachers can employ throughout their courses, working with learners to create a collaborative classroom culture…

We used Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as a new pedagogy in an intermediate composition course. Our course design was based in constructivist pedagogical practices, which suggest that knowledge is co-created through social interactions. Although professors have much to offer students, students can also learn important lessons through interactions…

Over the past several years I have taught a career orientation course at St. John Fisher College. This course was designed to increase student awareness of potential careers following their undergraduate studies in our Biology program. Additionally, the course has also been used as a model for similar experiences in our Psychology, Chemistry,…

This article describes a travel course to New Orleans that allows students the opportunity to study a unique culture in the United States. Students in the course are able to study how the culture developed through its immigration patterns, its food, its architecture, and the development of jazz. Since the flooding following Hurricane Katrina, a…

Describes a modified implementation of an instructional strategy known as problem-based learning (PBL) in an introductory cognitive neuroscience course. Discusses the principles of PBL found to be effective and demonstrates how these principles fostered continued restructuring of the course. (EV)

Discusses how parallel reading of literary and historical texts from the same period offers insight into both. Experience in classes using this technique indicates that students learn history more easily when it is connected to and personalized by literature, and that they read literature in a more profound way when they know its historical…

A unique introductory anthropology course at Texas Tech University introduces students to cultural diversity in the United States. Students read ethnographies--fieldwork-based descriptions of Hispanic, African American, and other communities--and then do ethnographic research of their own in the local community. This popular course encourages…

Discusses the design, rationale, and objectives of the course "Environmental Study in China," an upper-level course taught for business students at Bryant College in Rhode Island. Describes the study trip, including insights, challenges, and students' reactions. (EV)

Asserting that economists must work intentionally to put critical thinking skills into their courses, presents an approach that involves team teaching a course combining economics and another discipline with contrasting assumptions and values. Describes the issues addressed in courses combining economics and English literature and economics and…

Syllabi can be useful in engaging students and creating an effective classroom atmosphere, yet discussions of their effective use rarely appear. In light of current research and theory on syllabi, we review their typical uses (structural, motivational, and evidentiary), commonly included components, and attributes that positively impact the…

The most popular liberal arts elective offered during "Interim," a three-week intensive study semester given at the Fashion Institute of Technology, is described. Course origin, concept and format, course instructor, department coordinator, and course modifications are described. (MLW)