At the University of Vermont, an interdisciplinary faculty team developed an introductory watershed science field course. This course honed field skills and catalyzed communication across water-related disciplines without requiring specific prerequisites. Five faculty (geology, engineering, geography, natural resources) taught the four-credit…

Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to enhance the educational experience and retention of college students, especially those from underrepresented populations. However, many challenges still exist relative to building community among students navigating large institutions. We developed a novel course called "Entering…

Presents an account of developments in an environmental education course for practicing teachers in Australia. Reports on some of the changes that have taken place in the course and the cyclic revision patterns that have occurred between the course's theoretical rationale and its practical embodiment. (TW)

This paper constitutes an analysis of "Honey Bee Communication: An Enquiry into Two Concepts of Animal Behavior," a unit of classroom discussion modules developed by the Patterns of Enquiry Project at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. The conceptual framework of the analysis consists of four major items: (1) descriptive…

Thin-section photomicrographs are used to introduce the introductory geology laboratory classes to many of the optical properties of minerals. Evaluation by questionnaire suggests that the study of thin sections has a positive effect on the enjoyment and understanding of rock identification and classification by introductory students. (Author/MA)

Describes an introductory chemistry course for non-science majors with poor backgrounds in mathematics and English. The course goal was to develop an appreciation of the importance of chemistry to everyday life experiences and to the major area of the student. (GS)

Describes a course which is an attempt to make chemistry a relevant course for any CSE student. Emphasis is on scientific approach to problem solving, experimental design, and intellectual skills. (GS)

Describes two approaches used to combat declining enrollment figures in freshman level physics. One approach involved a multimedia format and proved unsuccessful because of faculty resistance. The second approach involved the development of a new course sequence for nonmajors. Outlines the course sequence and presents data on increased enrollment.…

Described is a course designed to demonstrate the interactions of science, technology, and society and present effective ways to integrate science/technology/societal issues into the curriculum. Included are the course development, goals, content, selection criteria, project impact, course evaluation, and conclusion. (KR)

Describes a study of medical students' training in orthopedics. Discusss discrepancies between course content and duration and the deficiencies that exist in basic knowledge of anatomy relevant to orthopedics. Recommends that orthopedic courses should appear earlier in the curriculum and practice should be emphasized. (TW)

Describes an integrated training model at a Spanish engineering school. Provides an introduction to the school including terminology, history, and structure; the integrated university-business model including technical industrial engineering, unregulated training, and the industrial design institute; and evaluation of the program. (YP)

The study described in this paper outlines an attempt to explore those factors that contribute to learning performance improvement in laboratory instruction. As a case study, the educational methodology involved in a basic microcontroller course was analyzed. Traditional lab sessions based on the control of peripherals with low interactivity have…

As a profession, engineering is not well understood by the general public. Engineers are perceived as "geeks" who love math and who have few interests outside of technical work. In short, the engineering profession has an image problem. In order to counteract this negative stereotyping, an engineering course for non-majors was developed…

Presented is a report on a course for undergraduate students which is designed to increase their intellectual abilities early in their college careers. The report gives the characteristics of concrete thought and formal reasoning, followed by an explanation of the process involved in data collecting and the data itself. The authors suggest that…