How does one grade an electronic portfolio? This question is one I have thought about, have enacted, and have written about, primarily in reference to ePortfolios used in writing classrooms (Yancey, McElroy, & Powers, 2013). But what happens when the content and developmental levels are changed, in this case from an undergraduate first-year…

The application of Communities of Practice (CofP) can potentially serve as an effective learning strategy for higher education classrooms by contributing to student professional development while fostering a desire for life-long learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess the effectiveness of this learning strategy and help…

As instructors adopt web-based learning environments, they must consider how students' evaluations of learning reflect the overall quality of instruction. Traditional course evaluations are used for faculty retention, tenure and promotion decisions, but also provide instructors with valuable information on the quality of their instruction. This…

Nine graduate students (teacher-researchers) with an average of 6 years teaching experience (1-15 years) participated in action research to examine the influence of teacher-chosen visual aids (pictures) on children's writing. A total of 165 elementary students participated in the two phases of the research project: 83 boys and 82 girls in…

This assessment of the effectiveness of using simulation, dial-up access to established bibliographic networks, and a dedicated CRT terminal for training library school students as online catalogers found that two modes of training are required: development of original cataloging skills, and development of computer interactive facility. Fourteen…

Describes a pilot project to develop and test a method for determining whether DAPPOR, a computer-assisted instruction drill program, and a print drill program produce a measurable difference in test scores of students learning the DIALOG command language. Recommendations for full-scale research and for modifying DAPPOR are provided. (Contains 17…

The effectiveness of a traditional programed approach for producing skills needed for systematic classroom observation was compared with that of a group process training approach. The group process approach involved trainees in generation, role-playing, and live coding of a transcript. These trainees showed a more positive attitude toward their…

Clear verbal communication is a key skill for the modern scientist. In this article we describe two model science courses, one given to a small class and the other to a large class, in which verbal communication is emphasized as a key learning objective. Both courses use a form of problem-based learning (PBL) with an end point that involves…

Instruction in using the library and its tools is assessed in this report, which explores the effectiveness of course-integrated bibliographic instruction for graduate students. When a search of the ERIC database and a request for information from LOEX (Library Orientation and Instruction Exchange) yielded few sources, the literature pertaining to…

Changing your Learning Management System (LMS) presents challenges not only to instructional faculty, but also to the students who depend on these systems to completely deliver or support their courses. In assessing the transition for students experiencing an upgrade in the campus LMS, a number of findings have real implications for developing a…