In this study, students from a variety of disciplines, who were enrolled in six courses that incorporate the use of social media, were surveyed to evaluate their perception of how the integration of social-media tools supports deep approaches to learning. Students reported that social media supports deep learning both directly and indirectly,…

Much attention has focused on learning styles and their impact on the teaching and learning process; however, little has been done to systematically incorporate learning style theory into actual teaching, nor to systematically examine its potential impact on student learning in higher education. As part of a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning…

Syllabi can be useful in engaging students and creating an effective classroom atmosphere, yet discussions of their effective use rarely appear. In light of current research and theory on syllabi, we review their typical uses (structural, motivational, and evidentiary), commonly included components, and attributes that positively impact the…

Four teaching techniques were used to enhance conceptual learning and to increase student performance in a course in physical-chemical principles at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. One of the techniques, "concept overview," is described. (MLW)

The journals of students in introductory college science courses give insight into the bewilderment students feel about science. Problems fall into five categories: semantics; use of symbols; inability to evaluate their own progress; difficulty in assimilating quantities of new knowledge; and cognitive overload. Students should be encouraged to…

The experiential learning model of Kolb provides a framework for examining the selection of a broader range of classroom activities than is in current use. Experiential learning cycle, experiential learning as instructional design, and student as actor versus student as receiver are discussed. (MLW)

A college English teacher discusses how her experience in learning to play a guitar has illuminated the teaching and learning processes, especially for first-year composition students who are motivated but not talented, or not highly motivated and expect failure. It is concluded that patience and kindness are important teaching tools. (MSE)

An active learning method incorporated into one college teacher's art history survey classes encourages students to begin to express ideas about what they see through three stages of a learning cycle: exploration, invention, and application. The method can be used in almost any field and has special advantages for introductory courses. (MSE)

Four competencies of superior teachers are seen as a basis for the ideal environment to nurture excellence. They are: a student-centered orientation, value for the learning process, a need to influence individual behavior, and a belief that they possess the power to produce a desired effect in the learner. (MLW)

A discussion of women and learning looks first at women's experiences and perspectives about learning and why the university classroom is usually more comfortable for men than for women. It then explores the implications for effective teaching and for creating equal learning environments for men and women. Specific classroom techniques and…

A discussion of the liberal arts'"great books," specifically in political philosophy, reflects on the value of the core curriculum, the value of expanding the traditional canon, the use of reading to learn, results of true learning, and the danger of shunning works traditionally seen as important. (MSE)

A unit on adult learning with an exercise based on the theories of Malcolm Knowles and Allen Tough is described. After students in the class see that they actually planned and directed much of their significant adult learning, they are eager to join in the process of modifying course objectives. (MLW)

A classroom exercise to help college students of economics conceptualize, create, and learn from graphs is described. The technique is illustrated with an exercise concerning the concept of supply and demand in consumer markets. Classroom time required for the activity is small, and students become adept at manipulating models without anxiety.…

Memory is the primary mechanism of modern education. Despite memory's importance in other ways, it is not the primary tool for solving problems, making theories or plotting courses of action. Students should be taught how to separate trivial from important information by using critical judgments, ethical standards, and logic. (MLW)

The ways in which teachers conceptualize their institutions and their students are interrelated and will control the process of learning. Teachers must assume a different metaphorical stance toward their students in order to facilitate their education. Two metaphorical roles are described. (MLW)