"The Teaching Archive" shows us a series of major literary thinkers in a place we seldom remember them inhabiting: the classroom. Rachel Sagner Buurma and Laura Heffernan open up "the teaching archive"--the syllabuses, course descriptions, lecture notes, and class assignments--of critics and scholars including T. S. Eliot,…

Dean of Math, Science, and Health at Washtenaw Community College, Kristin Brandemuehl describes what it was like taking her first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). As a teacher, Brandemuehl was intrigued with what a MOOC was and what quality of an educational modality it might be. She also figured that participating in this MOOC would not only…

This article discusses the successful use of technology, rather than lectures, by Tennessee's community colleges to teach developmental reading and math. The redesign occurred with the support of the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT). In fall 2007, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) staff convened meetings to familiarize its…

This article discusses how an active learning environment was created in a community college class and a high school mathematics class using the same approach. In both settings the NCTM and AMATYC Standards, such as problem solving, communication, use of technology and alternate assessment, were fully embraced. The goal was to have students take…

To prepare a course on "Communication Skills for the Community College Teacher" a literature search and a focus group interview on the topic of effective community college lecturing was carried out. The literature search revealed shortcomings in the literature on lecturing, which tends to be oriented to secondary school or four-year…

Describes two instructional techniques that facilitate improved absorption of course material: (1) the "pausing principle," i.e., pausing during a lecture so that students can share materials and absorb lecture content; and (2) the calculation of "wait time" intervals, or the appropriate number of seconds for students to…

Describes and evaluates Central Piedmont Community College's experimental use of the telephone as an alternative delivery system. During the experiment five faculty members taped at least 10 percent of their course lectures for student access through telephone lines during evenings and weekends. Reviews faculty and student responses. (DMM)

Describes the content for community college history courses that meet the needs of the students by focusing on the educational aids; affective teaching techniques, such as using period music or an anecdotal story; and student outreach. Includes a lecture outline and hints for writing essays. (CMK)

Although research has demonstrated that the well-planned use of audio-visual (AV) media enhances student learning, classroom use of media is usually confined to sporadic, individual presentations which serve only as an auxiliary to the lecture and which are too often regarded by the student as entertainment. To realize the potential of AV media…

Describes an experimental mass lecture presentation method at Cayuga County Community College, Auburn, New York, to prepare accounting students for the type of instruction in four-year institutions. Although some students chose not to enroll in the mass lecture accounting section, those who participated made better progress and were favorable…

Arguing that high attrition rates and low grades in trigonometry classes underscore the need for changes in the approach to trigonometry instruction, these papers suggest an instructional model and present a proposal for its adoption at the College of San Mateo (CSM). The first paper begins with the argument that students' lack of preparation for…

An evaluation was conducted at Northern Virginia Community College to assess the effectiveness of courses in nursing education presented in two distinctly different styles: the traditional lecture method; and a multimedia approach employing textbooks, audiovisual aids, study guides, and lectures. Using State Board of Nursing Examination Scores as…

Observing that the lecture/discussion instructional technique resulted in high failure rates among students taking technical composition, an instructor at Madisonville Community College (Kentucky) implemented a new course system designed to provide individualized instruction. The system called for two fifty-minute lectures per week attended by all…

A study of effective English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teaching in large classes is presented. The small body of literature on class size and student achievement is reviewed, the "large section" approach is described. The approach is evaluated with data on student performance in an ESL program offered at Montgomery College, (Maryland).…

Describes the individualized, self-paced format for math instruction provided at Pima Community College's Math Center as an alternative to the traditional lecture method. Examines course offerings, as well as registration, attendance, and grading procedures. Discusses staff organization at the center and the problems of using student tutors. (JP)