Most institutions of higher education have some system in place for collecting student ratings of instruction (SRI) data from classes on a systematic basis. SRIs are a relatively simple way of gauging student perceptions of teaching and the course. Since the initial development of IDEA SRI in 1975, much has changed about higher education. Many…

A former Teach for America recruit who completed her training in a university-based program compares the two approaches to teacher preparation. In Teach for America, she learned how to design units and prepare lesson plans; in her university-based program, she had the time to learn from master teachers and build valuable skills, then practice…

The recent editorial in this journal by Bull et al. ("Connecting Informal and Formal Learning Experiences in the Age of Participatory Media" Vol 8, Iss 2) discussed the challenges of bridging formal learning practices and informal learning opportunities within the context of today's Web-enhanced world. In this commentary, Christine…

A proponent of the lecture method describes his conversion to "packaged" instruction--courses based on autoinstructional modules. (DC)

The proposition, "That measurement issues in competency-based educational programs (CBE) are not different from those in other kinds of testing (NCBE)" must be declared false. (1) Measurement in CBE focuses on the present while NCBE measurement focuses on information needed for future planning. (2) CBE measurement starts with definitive statements…

Debate regarding the teaching of reading as skills versus reading as securing ideas has been in evidence for some time. The "measurably stated objectives" philosophy emphasizes that the act of reading should be divided into specific skills in which the inherent component parts are identified and a highly detailed list of precise objectives are…

Describes a self-paced mastery learning process applied to an introductory sociology course at Lambton College (Sarnia, Ontario) in an attempt to correct traditional instructional and grading "malpractices." Describes course goals and organization, behavioral objectives, grading contracts, teaching techniques, student evaluation and feedback, and…

Engagement has been viewed as an important construct to understand students' learning performances in classroom settings. Taking an interactive perspective, the study investigates ninth graders' cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement in teacher-centered (TC) and student-centered (SC) technology-enhanced classrooms. 54 students from two…

In answer to critics of innovative teaching methods, the author cites an exemplary performance-based program in electrical technology at Beaufort County Technical Institute (North Carolina), and concludes that in certain situations non-traditional strategies may be useful and more efficient in terms of time, students trained, and manpower…

Analyzes how a United Kingdom higher education initiative has promoted learning and teaching innovation that supports collaborative, inclusive learning by integrating online and face-to-face delivery. Topics include aligning assessments, teaching processes, and learning objectives; educational media and learning processes; using online materials…

A study sought to develop and evaluate an instructional model which utilized the computer to produce individually prescribed instructional guides to account for the idiosyncratic variations among students in physics classes at the secondary school level. The students in the treatment groups were oriented toward the practices of selecting…

Two methods of teaching drama as a literary form in an Introduction to Literature course were compared. Eighty-seven first-year students, 28 males and 59 females, were non-randomly assigned to four classes, two of which were taught in the traditional lecture-discussion manner while the remaining two utilized a method combining lecture-discussion…

A study was conducted to ascertain whether the use of behavioral objectives in the conduct of a child psychology course would be more effective as an instructional delivery system than the traditional lecture-centered, note-taking approach. An experimental group received instruction in child psychology by means of the behavioral objectives…

The University of Tennessee offers an educational program to prepare Doctor of Pharmacy candidates for clinical roles in mental health care. The program consists of two core curricular elements: a didactic module and a clinical clerkship that devotes equal time to inpatient and outpatient care. Clinical guidelines and pharmacist goals are…

The state of the art of behavioral instruction and examples of successful implementation of behaviorally-based college teaching are provided in this book. In Chapter 1, the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) is covered, including a discussion of the problems inherent in traditional teaching methods that led to the development of personalized…