High-quality digital learning experiences are built on the foundational principles of providing equitable, inclusive, accessible learning environments for all students. In addition, high-quality digital learning experiences are well-organized and thoughtfully designed. These experiences rely on instructional design principles and strategies to…

This paper argues that all students, whatever their linguistic identities, can benefit from an explicit and structured introduction to academic writing. It argues that this tuition should no longer be seen as support, and therefore marginalised, but as a transformative process of acculturation that needs to be located in the mainstream of the…

Geographic information science (GIS) features a wide range of disciplines and has broad applicability. Challenges associated with rapidly developing GIS technology and the currently limited teaching and practice materials hinder universities from cultivating highly skilled GIS graduates. Based on the idea of "small core, big network," a…

For a basic foundation in computer engineering, universities traditionally teach synchronous sequential circuit design, using discrete gates or field programmable gate arrays, and a microcomputers course that includes basic I/O processing. These courses, though critical, expose students to only a small subset of tools. At co-op schools like…

Modern Educational Technology is a common course in many normal universities in China. The Modern Educational Technology Center (METC) of East China Normal University (ECNU) decided to improve the course for pre-service teachers at the end of 2010. The enhanced course has some additional features, such as emphasising knowledge and skills transfer,…

Suggests how to solicit feedback from college level sociology students during a course rather than at the end of the semester. Feedback can be encouraged by establishing student liaison committees, scheduling student meetings in the absence of the instructor, and accepting discussion of course content in addition to more technical matters.…

Describes a system, Infracom, which enables students to influence content and structure in introductory college level sociology courses. Infracom involves writing evaluations of class meetings, making comments in class, and helping determine learning aids. (Author/DB)

An experimental interdisciplinary freshman course taught at North Carolina State University was intended to introduce principles of general systems theory; to provide examples through lectures and readings of applications of these principles in a wide variety of fields; and to introduce and provide practice in critical questioning and evaluation.…

A course in communication skills for medical students at the University of Massachusetts Medical School is described. Three issues are examined: the effectiveness of behavioral scientists and physicians as course instructors, the value of videotaped role-playing exercises, and the value of trained actors and medical students as simulated patients.…

For a class project students in an industrial/organizational psychology course had to construct a performance appraisal instrument for assessing the instructor's performance. Evaluations revealed that students found the exercise useful. (RM)

Reports on a study that compared graduate student and faculty views of effective psychology courses. Finds that students placed greater emphasis on course components directly related to their class performance. Suggests strategies for addressing the different perspectives of students and faculty. (CFR)

The Senior Seminar (Humanities 497) at Sheldon Jackson College, Alaska, is described. The focus of this interdisciplinary, division-taught course, is to develop a syllabus for the course using the product development guidelines of the Nova University (Florida) course, "Curriculum and Program Planning." The Senior Seminar is a requirement…

A course in pharmacy administration principles at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy taught by Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) was found to produce generally favorable student evaluation of course and instructor. Examples of instructional unit objectives are provided. (Author/MLW)

A recent effort to bring the Total Quality Management approach into an upper-division economics course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is described, focusing on three major elements: (1) proficiency-based customer focus, (2) student involvement in team research projects, and (3) continuous improvement through ongoing student evaluation of…

Describes a social work course incorporating ethnographic research methods, including seven course modules that cover sampling, data collection, data analysis, theory development, presentation of findings, and practical application within a clinical setting. Also presents student evaluations of course relevance and usefulness, and educational and…