The course design and development process (often referred to here as the "production process") at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU-Worldwide) aims to produce turnkey style courses to be taught by a highly-qualified pool of over 800 instructors. Given the high number of online courses and tremendous number of live sections…

One of the challenges that social studies educators face daily is how to make student learning relevant. Digital technologies can play an important role by connecting what happens in the classroom to the world beyond. One way to do this is by turning students into producers of information and having them create content rather than simply consume.…

This paper describes the first phase of a Mechatronics Curriculum Development effort--the design of an "Introduction to Mechatronics" course, the infusion of mechatronics activities throughout the curriculum and in outreach activities, and assessment results. In addition, the relevance and impact of such a curriculum on the education of engineers…

This paper describes the second and third phases of a comprehensive mechatronics curriculum development effort. They encompass the development of two advanced mechatronics courses ("Simulation and Modeling of Mechatronic Systems" and "Sensors and Actuators for Mechatronic Systems"), the formulation of a Mechatronics concentration, and offshoot…

The seven Favorite Assignments featured in this article were originally presented at the 2010 ABC Annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois. The reader can consider a variety of learning objectives from team building to persuasion, application of electronic media to face-to-face communication, and much more. Some Favorite Assignments take a full…

As more school administrators learn ways of promoting their schools to the public, the push for developing television production courses will likely increase. This article introduces the reader to the curricular and pedagogical foundations of television production technology. The authors discuss how to make informed decisions when creating…

Provides guidelines for developing an inexpensive television production curriculum using community access cable television. (CMV)

Sections of this article deal with (1) the first quarter of a beginning mechanics course, (2) development of computer based learning materials in other parts of physics, (3) production strategies, and (4) the future of computer based learning in physics and other areas. (Author/CMV)

For a new course in media editing at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, a nonlinear, affordable AVID Media Suite Pro system was selected for the student video laboratory, a textbook was chosen, and an instructor was trained. However, there were difficulties concerning the acquisition, delivery, setup, and debugging of the editing…

Reports the result of a program using a cable television channel to give mass communications students experience in managing budgets, people, and programing. Includes recommendations for others considering such a program. (PD)

In 1976, Texas Tech University's Department of Mass Communications introduced a noncommercial telecommunications sequence designed to extend the exiting telecommunications major for undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in nonbroadcast media. Rationale for and courses included in the sequence are described. (Author/JN)

Describes the formative research process through which the creators of the "Ghostwriter" television series develop educational programming that is meaningful for its young audience. Focusing on one story, the authors describe two research studies that were conducted to inform the story's creation and show how children's ideas and sentiments were…

Explains how student-generated, computer-based multimedia projects can be meaningful learning activities to integrate into the K-12 curriculum. Describes three phases: design, including goals and objectives of the project and use of the finished product; production, including choosing multimedia software, prototyping, and usability testing; and…

Describes a 10-week drama production project to create a scripted piece that suits adolescent actors. Notes that there is a scarcity of suitable scripts for middle school performers. Details the process used in the hope that others who face similar frustrations may learn from and adapt it for use in their own educational environments. (SC)

General session, small group activities, and on-site visits are represented in these papers from a conference which had the objectives of defining alternatives for systematic curriculum development, providing for the interchange of experiences in determining needs and instructional specifications for material production, and developing a plan for…