This article proposes facilitation of active learning in methods courses using collaborative survey research projects. Students form groups in which they develop and administer questionnaires that explore public attitudes and behaviors. Each step requires they apply key concepts toward completion of the project. Collaborative research project…

The article describes a report stemming from the development and application of a Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ)--a 100 item attitudinal and factual instrument designed to cover a wide range of suicidal concerns. Subjects of the study were 17 college students drawn at random from 89 students enrolled in an abnormal psychology course. Results…

The literature suggests that teachers may rely more often on intuition when making course planning decisions than on informed assessment of learners' needs (Barkhuizen 1998; Spratt 1999). This article proposes a more principled alternative to the intuitive approach, based on the use of teacher-designed class-specific questionnaires intended to…

A process developed at Colorado State University to assess college students' knowledge of microcomputers prior to taking an introductory microcomputer course uses self-questionnaires to place students in the microcomputer learning curve according to their knowledge of and interest in microcomputers. Students can then be grouped into different…

This paper describes the basic principles and objectives of an educational approach based on "values confrontation" and evaluates its impact on student values, feelings, and behavior. After stressing the importance of forming a modern pedagogy concerned with developing rational thinking and deeper personal and social awareness, the paper…

A description is provided of the development of a course in business communication for office administration majors at Evergreen Valley College (EVC) in California. The steps involved in the development of the course are explained, including: (1) a review of the educational and business literature on business communication; (2) a review of current…

Focuses on the MSc in management development at Edge Hill. Describes the environment in which the programme was developed and takes particular account of some of the different strands of management learning discussed in the literature and how these issues have informed the development of the programme. Provides a sample of course members' views of…

This descriptive report examines the objectives and outcomes of two experimental humanities courses designed to offer students fresh perspectives on common human experiences in community and family life through stories, poems, films, art, dance, and essays. After introductory material describing course design, the report outlines cognitive and…

Information on Indiana University's course in patient education is presented, along with sources of additional information on patient education and a summary of a national survey on professional preparation in patient education. An outline of the following course topics is presented: past and current developments, health care delivery, patient…

Over the last 2 years, 3 Australian universities have been cooperating on a Commonwealth Government funded project on Distance Teaching and Evaluation Skills to identify and disseminate good practice in the professional development of distance educators. A specific and supportive professional development intervention to foster the evaluation of…

This manual, developed as part of an effort by Mount St. Mary's College (Los Angeles, California) to increase multicultural education across the curriculum contains practical suggestions for revising and developing syllabi with a multicultural component from a variety of disciplines including art, English, music, philosophy, psychology, speech,…

Evaluates a materials writing approach to professional development in English language teaching (ELT). The context is the training of teacher trainers, and the specific focus is a United Kingdom course for ELT professionals from Polish teacher training institutions. The article describes the background to the course, analyzes teacher training…

A project was designed to implement a curriculum for a short-term re-entry course for licensed practical nurses (LPN) who wish to return to employment after some absence. Southeast Community College used an advisory committee of RNs and LPNs to assist in identifying objectives, content, and method of instruction. A survey questionnaire was mailed…

A pilot-model for evaluating state-of-the-art short-courses for engineer practitioners was developed based on assessments of 10 Continuing Education in Engineering (CEE) courses offered by University Extension of the University of California, Berkeley. Instruments used in the study included student questionnaires, faculty interviews, follow-up…

This paper discusses some of the issues involved and lessons learned in including a formal computer laboratory component in a freshman mathematics course for business administration students at Monmouth University (New Jersey), focusing on both the technical and the pedagogical aspects of the component of the course. The concept is modeled after…