A large improvement in student attitudes toward a behavioral pharmacy course addressing communication skills was noted when an instructor-directed course employing videotaped, but unrehearsed, student simulations was changed to allow student-directed videotaped simulations. Although more student input was required, anxiety levels were reduced.…

Because of the complexity of large-scale projects, teams of experts have become the new designers of the built environment, with clients, decision makers, and buildings' users demanding inclusion in these teams. The Grand Frame Game is described as a technique for including people in decision making. (MLW)

Recounts a criminology class exercise that consisted of staging a mock trial using the murders from Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" as source material. Students research the case and role play various lawyers, jury members, and witnesses. Identifies and discusses four educational objectives attainable through the staging of mock trials. (MJP)

Describes an educational game designed to help students (fourth grade through adult) understand how financial markets work within the free enterprise system and how the basic economic principles impact the stock market. Discusses the paper and Internet versions of the game and provides some teaching guidelines. (MJP)

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing's new program standards call for improved assessments of administrative performance. A wide range of traditional and nontraditional assessment approaches are being developed, including interviews, multiple-choice examinations, written or constructed responses, performance objectives and…

Discusses strategies used by two teachers for teaching geography to at-risk students to connect the subject matter to the student's lives. Includes techniques such as integrating music, art, language, employing simulations when teaching, using current events to improve students' reading skills, and utilizing computer technology. (CMK)

This paper gives a definition of communicative macro-tasks within a situational and functional approach to the teaching of foreign languages, and particularly English, to science, technology, and engineering students. It also attempts to present a typology of such macro-tasks and describes possible classroom applications. (Author/YP)

Presented is a computer simulation called "The Great Chemical Bead Game" which can be used to teach the concepts of equilibrium and kinetics to introductory chemistry students more clearly than through an experiment. Discussed are the rules of the game, the application of rate laws and graphical analysis. (CW)

Presents a lesson on introducing writing into the science curriculum by using an experiment to illustrate the detrimental effect of tobacco smoke on human lungs. Outlines the materials, procedures, a summary of the project, extension activities, and additional information about the writing process. Two handout sheets are included. (RT)

Compares achievement effects and time-on-task generated for computer and non-computer versions of essentially the same game. Notes that students followed different rules for the same game and pace was faster for computer versions. Reports transfer of instruction may not be complete. (MVL)

Discusses the challenges of making a grade 12 law course come alive. Suggests using oral simulation work such as mock trials, moot courts, and adversarial debates. Illustrates the use of the "Grade A Contract" to keep students on task and promote skill support, and presents an outline of a moot court enactment. (LS)

Describes a course developed by a librarian and an economics teacher using active learning techniques to teach research skills and critical thinking. Topic include the course development, including course objectives and clarification of the librarians role; a search strategy; and revisions to methodology to achieve course objectives. (six…

Chronicles the steps taken in developing a curricular project to design, implement, and evaluate a simulation business course for beginners learning Japanese at the university level. The steps in developing the program, from the selection of materials to the evaluation of the entire project, are presented together with insights gained from the…

Asserts that simulations are considered a highly effective pedagogical tool because they involve students in problem-solving and inquiry-based activities. Presents a model simulation designed to prepare secondary or college students for civic discourse about reparations as an important public policy issue. (CFR)

The Genetics Construction Kit is a computer-based learning tool that simulates the phenomena of classical transmission genetics. Its construction kit approach lets users set the parameters of the problem sets to be generated. The program has been used extensively in science education research and curriculum development. (Author/MSE)