Use the 6-step instructional approach and examples in this article to bring civics learning and understanding to your elementary students.

Courses on French civilization and culture should begin with a presentation of essential information, including historical background, role of the state, and the weight and presence of the past. They should move on through public life--politics, commerce, industry, social structures, the media--to the experiences of day-to-day life. (Author/JR)

Discusses instructional design for distance education and suggests a systematic process. Topics include planning; learners; course content; teaching strategies; selection of media; learning environments; technology; resources; and evaluation, including learner assessment and instruction evaluation. (LRW)

John Carroll's concept of mastery learning (ML) is described, and an ML model which can be used by directors of music-performing groups is presented. According to Carroll, any student, when given direction and time to follow that direction, can move along a time line from a state of inability to a state of ability. Tasks defined in behavioral…

Discusses a self-instructional programed Visual-Tutorial learning system, designed to teach preservice elementary school teachers both theory and skills related to effective classroom utilization of audiovisual materials and equipment. An outline of the course, "Media Practicum," is included. (RAO)

Discusses a new Australian Academy of Science secondary chemistry textbook that provides a more interesting, enjoyable, and understandable base to a wider spread of students. Notes that rigor is maintained for use in college prep courses. Lists context for change, guiding philosophies, and the table of contents. (MVL)

Describes a pilot scheme designed to help teachers and students to solve some of the problems inherent in teaching a foreign language (in this case, French) to a group of students of different levels. The course makes extensive use of language laboratory and peer group teaching. (Author/CB)

A thematic unit on folk literature designed for middle school English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) instruction, for students with beginner to intermediate level skills, is presented. The intention in introducing literature at these levels is to provide positive experiences with literature in the target language, and to introduce the target culture.…

Describes a college sociology course on the relationship of language and ethnicity, whose topics include intergroup communication and miscommunication; representation of ethnicity in cultural texts; and the role of ethnicity in socialization, values, religion, and social institutions. Development of the course, choice of instructional materials,…

The structure of an 8-week intensive course in literature for advanced learners of English as a Second Language is described. Focus is on engaging student interest with texts rich in theme and/or language that can elicit thoughtful discussion. In the first 2 weeks, the language and length of the texts (short stories) selected make them relatively…

The University of Moratuwa (Sri Lanka) developed two courses in English for engineering students, one for technician-level diploma students and one for bachelor's degree-level students. The first step was a needs analysis, conducted through questionnaires and informal meetings with students and faculty, observation of subject lectures and…

Syllabus designers and materials writers in developing nations must treat English for specific purposes as a language-policy solution to language-policy problems. They must familiarize themselves with sociopolitical factors affecting course design and subsequently the relevance of courses produced. Examples are illustrated through a case study of…