Nearly 100 students were given a Pre-Test in psychology on the first day of class without warning in order to assess their knowledge of basic course content derived from the prerequisites of the course (PSYC-100 Introduction to Psychology or PSYC-220 Child Development) and other life experiences. This was intended as a low-stakes testing…

Education outside the classroom can be defined, in its broadest sense, as any structured learning experience that takes place beyond the classroom environment during the school day, after school or during the holidays. It can include, among other activities, cultural trips, science and geography fieldwork, environmental and countryside education,…

The is the first report from a study of a structured active learning approach to an analytical chemistry course. The purpose of the study is to assess the longitudinal outcomes of this approach and to provide feedback to curriculum developers about the effects of the changes being made in the chemistry curriculum. The data, collected from a cohort…

This paper reports on a content analysis of the Portable Assisted Study Sequence (PASS) mathematics curricular materials designed for migrant students in California. The study compared PASS curriculum content to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. The PASS Program,…

This paper reports findings from a detailed critical analysis of commonly used curriculum materials and assessment devices for the study of literature in kindergarten through sixth grade. The paper provides descriptive information and suggestions for improved design and use of curricula available to classroom teachers, especially with respect to…

This document summarizes the findings of the Learning through Evaluation, Adaptation and Dissemination (LEAD) Center's report on the team approach to the first research experience for undergraduates in botany and zoology. Students (N=25) and faculty (N=12) were interviewed and a comparison was made between students who performed the research in…

In fall 1987, a study was conducted by the Learning Assessment Retention Consortium (LARC) to closely inspect the reading courses and programs currently offered in the California community colleges. All 106 community colleges in the state were surveyed regarding testing instruments used, the number and level of reading courses offered, entry and…

Practicing school principals were surveyed to determine their opinions regarding the most effective preparation curriculum for principals. A total of 100 Louisiana principals, drawn equally from elementary, middle or junior high, and high school, were given a survey instrument containing 52 course titles and asked to rank order the 12 courses they…

This study evaluated the Agricultural Curriculum Project which is being implemented in 16 secondary schools in Mauritius. Specific areas examined included: (1) the relevance, appropriateness, and practicability of the project's general objectives; (2) the relevance, balance, and organization of the course content; (3) the effectiveness and…

The guide is one section of a resource kit designed to assist Peace Corps language instruction coordinators in countries around the world in understanding the principles underlying second language learning and teaching and in organizing instructional programs. This section addresses design and development of language curricula. An introductory…

A systematic approach to the improvement of courses, programs and curricula in higher education is presented in the following chapters: (1) "Benefits of a Systematic Approach to Course and Curriculum Improvement"; (2) "Making the Decision to Create or Redesign a Course or Program"; (3) "Selecting a Design Team and Establishing Goals and…

The nature of program changes taking place in undergraduate general education and factors that affect curricular change were addressed in a survey. A sample of 272 colleges and universities that were conducting serious review or revision of their undergraduate general education programs were sent questionnaires, and 139 responses were received.…

This report presents details from an examination of the curricula and diplomas of the Electrical Engineering departments of several major European technical universities (in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium). The examination, a process involving department representatives of the various schools who came together to…

This practicum report describes a project to teach preservice speech-language clinicians cost-effective and time-efficient methods for analyzing language sample assessment data used to design functional treatment programs for children with communicative/linguistic deficits. A technology curriculum was designed and implemented which emphasized…

This study assessed the service quality of United States Sports Academy 's online course curriculum and examined the factors, which affected the students' overall satisfaction of their educational experience with the Academy. The results generated were based on 449 responses (male = 331, female = 118) of the student evaluation survey that were…