Although many professors realize that note taking while listening to a lecture results in shallow learning and a lack of student engagement (Hartley & Davies, 1978), lecturing remains the primary mode of instruction. A recent challenger to the dominant notetaking/PowerPoint paradigm is Reacting to the Past (RTTP). To capitalize on the…

Evidence suggests that facilitated interventions in study abroad enhance gains in intercultural development, but many recent studies are not generalizable due to small numbers and lack of experimental design. In this study, subjects received individual or small-group interventions online in a course with trained intercultural mentors. The authors…

This study investigated the experiences of engineering students who participated in a cultural simulation activity to promote cross-cultural communication skills. A sample of 138 post-activity short reflections from a global engineering practice course were analyzed using qualitative inquiry. Results suggest that students recognize parallels…

This study evaluated syllabi (N = 87) from introductory advertising and public relations courses to examine to what extent and how stated course goals and assignments signal the overall learning orientation of a course and which type of learning orientation--mastery or performance--was most common. Mastery orientations emphasize intrinsic rewards,…

The complexity of a course's structure may influence how well students understand what is expected of them. Using the foundation of the industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology literature, the authors modified a measure of "Perceived System Knowledge" (Williams & Levy, 1992) for employee performance appraisal to be appropriate for…

A survey of faculty members (n=74) and undergraduate students (n=242) examined perceived importance of syllabus components. Significant differences were found between faculty and student responses, with students more concerned than faculty with information on test format, length and format of required papers and projects, course withdrawal policy,…

Web-based learning environments are often criticized for being driven by technology rather than by learning theories. The author created a learning environment consisting of online and offline components that are combined to exploit the advantages of both hypermedia technology and face-to-face instruction. She presents the pedagogical rationale…

In a foundations-of-education course based on experiential learning, 120 college students formed partnerships with elementary school children and, using letters and interviews, asked them about teaching and learning. It was found that the students clarified their educational philosophies, enhanced communication skills, and overcame preconceptions…