Student evaluations of three types of instructional methods were examined. Students preferred, in descending order, environmental (discussion), presentational (lecture), and nondirective (student initiation) teaching methods. Results indicated that differences between these methods were differences in kind, rather than in quality or quantity.…

Compares differences in successive pretest/posttest scores for 46 undergraduate volunteers following the application of distinct teaching formats to each of 3 consecutive subsections of a human physiology course. Indicates scores increased favorably for audio-visual lecture and self-study tutorial formats but no significant increase for didactic…

The Université des Lycéens (University of High-School Students) was set up in France in order to make scientific knowledge more relevant to students and to combat a growing lack of interest in science among students. The scheme involves a series of lectures to students by scientists, each followed by a debate. The organisers hope that putting…

Results of the evaluation of a faculty development program for dental faculty are presented, along with a course outline. The purpose of the program is to help improve the teaching skills of new or recent dental faculty through two semester-long courses. The fall course consists of seven learning modules consisting of self-directed instructional…

Intended for inexperienced teachers in higher education to be used in conjunction with a staff training program, information is presented on: teaching and learning principles; teaching methods; tutoring, counseling and student problems; student assessment; behavioral objectives; designing a course; and evaluation of teaching. Focus is on teaching…

A guide for faculty who want to improve their lecturing skills is presented. After identifying advantages and disadvantages of the lecture method, suggestions are offered for effective lecture preparation, with attention to organizing the body of the lecture, and beginning and closing the lecture. Vocal aspects of lecture delivery are addressed,…

A mailed survey sent to faculty from 132 medical technology schools, 64 medical laboratory technician schools, and 58 certified laboratory assistant schools yielded 355 responses concerning most frequently vs. least frequently used teaching techniques and most effective vs. least effective teaching techniques. Information on where and how…

Our main goal in this study was to explore whether the use of models in molecular genetics instruction in high school can contribute to students' understanding of concepts and processes in genetics. Three comparable groups of 11th and 12th graders participated: The control group (116 students) was taught in the traditional lecture format, while…

Suggestions for graduate teaching assistants (TA) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, are offered. Information is provided on: the TA as a university employee, the instructor as a teacher/adviser, course management, classroom and evaluation concerns, and teaching resources. Definitions are offered for the graduate teaching assistant,…

This paper presents a World Wide Web-based electronic feedback system for use in lectures and practical classes. The system is based on Java and provides a configurable feedback form, a managing tool for administrators, and a statistics viewer for presenting the generated statistical data in various ways. In addition, it generates a statistical…

A handbook for graduate teaching assistants at Colorado State University includes suggestions to improve teaching and information on teaching and learning resources. Faculty teaching responsibility is discussed, along with 10 factors related to effective teaching and learning, including enthusiasm, knowledge of subject, and organization and…

Information on teaching at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is presented for both new and established teachers. Course and lecture organization, presentation techniques, and teaching aids are covered, along with exams, grading, and teacher evaluation. Class size and composition and classroom…

An overview of the field of adult education is presented, and the nature of adult learners and eight basic instructional modes are discussed. The focus is skills that make people better teachers and the intended audience is college professors, continuing education instructors outside the formal education setting, and students of higher education.…

Materials in this sourcebook are designed for use by college administrators charged with developing in-service programs that provide instructional support, procedural information, and recognition for part-time vocational instructors. The introduction to the sourcebook examines the problems encountered by part-time faculty and then discusses…

The "Student Evaluation of Instruction" (SEOI) was administered to all full-time and part-time faculty. Approximately 97,984 surveys were sent out in 4,917 envelopes; 57,978 surveys were returned to the Office of Institutional Research. The return rate for the paper surveys was 59% including late submissions. Instructors' reports were…