This study examined the use of popular culture-themed (PCT) courses in higher education. The goal was to define PCT courses operationally as well as qualitatively to explore benefits and challenges associated with teaching these courses. Instructors from a wide range of disciplines who have taught or are currently teaching a PCT course were asked…

Although an abundance of research has discussed the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), there is little research on how UDL may be used in syllabus construction. The authors developed and validated the UDL Syllabus Scale (UDLSS), which evaluates higher education instructors' ability to design a syllabus using UDL principles. Over…

Although many professors realize that note taking while listening to a lecture results in shallow learning and a lack of student engagement (Hartley & Davies, 1978), lecturing remains the primary mode of instruction. A recent challenger to the dominant notetaking/PowerPoint paradigm is Reacting to the Past (RTTP). To capitalize on the…

This study examined how one set of instructors' stated classroom teaching philosophies did or did not manifest during their first day of class. Data included classroom observations, interviews, and content analysis of syllabi. Findings suggest that instructors employed "learner-attentive" rather than "learner-centered"…

Two professors co-taught critical and civic thinking in the same first-semester course for four years. For the first year, they used computerized argument mapping and critical-thinking-for-civic-thinking (CT)[superscript 2] exercises based on open-ended scenarios framed within a civic context. The instructors assessed student skill levels using…

Intergroup dialogues are co-facilitated, face-to-face dialogues between two groups that have a history of conflict (for example, White people and people of color). Although researchers have explored the outcomes of these dialogues among students, little is known about the role of facilitators. Drawing from a case study of an intergroup dialogue…

Faculty members in higher education are challenged to meet the needs of an increasingly learning-diverse student body. Neuroscience research indicates that individual variations in brain function affect each learner's ability to process and express information. Using this research as a foundation, the theory and principles of universal course…

Studies have indicated that the willingness of faculty members to accommodate students with disabilities differs according to academic discipline and instructor gender. The authors examined the attitudes of faculty members toward students with disabilities as reflected in course syllabi to discern instructor willingness to accommodate these…

Syllabus use in higher education instruction is ubiquitous, yet what actually constitutes a syllabus remains unclear. The authors assessed the contents of 1000 syllabi, sampled from the Internet, based on 26 criteria determined from a literature review of recommended syllabus components. Syllabi contents were assessed according to four categories:…

A survey of faculty members (n=74) and undergraduate students (n=242) examined perceived importance of syllabus components. Significant differences were found between faculty and student responses, with students more concerned than faculty with information on test format, length and format of required papers and projects, course withdrawal policy,…

A University of South Carolina program provides marine science students with learning opportunities that merge research and undergraduate study. In three semesters, students mastered complex scientific concepts and important professional skills such as critical and independent thinking, teamwork, and problem solving. Student/faculty and…