This study examined the use of popular culture-themed (PCT) courses in higher education. The goal was to define PCT courses operationally as well as qualitatively to explore benefits and challenges associated with teaching these courses. Instructors from a wide range of disciplines who have taught or are currently teaching a PCT course were asked…

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…

This study aimed to find predictors of learning outcomes for an undergraduate social work research course. Participants' scores on various assessment tasks were used as dependent variables and their perceptions and learning experiences as independent variables. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Student performance on weekly…

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…

A collaborative course introduced history students to a variety of digital tools and printed materials for historical research. The authors explore the development of this program by a historian and a librarian as a case study to address the value of teaching history outside of the classroom and allowing students to conduct research on-site. This…

Two professors co-taught critical and civic thinking in the same first-semester course for four years. For the first year, they used computerized argument mapping and critical-thinking-for-civic-thinking (CT)[superscript 2] exercises based on open-ended scenarios framed within a civic context. The instructors assessed student skill levels using…

Faculty members in higher education are challenged to meet the needs of an increasingly learning-diverse student body. Neuroscience research indicates that individual variations in brain function affect each learner's ability to process and express information. Using this research as a foundation, the theory and principles of universal course…

This article seeks to inspire humanities and social science faculty to explore ways of utilizing existing scholarly online communities to engage students in the process of academic inquiry. The author discusses her own experience using a discipline-specific listserv, shares successful assignments, examples of student postings and a grading rubric.…

The author discusses findings from a content analysis of a national sample of 127 service-learning course syllabi to illustrate assessment strategies. Although the results demonstrate the influence of Campus Compact's recommendation to use reflective assessment in service-learning courses, the use of reflection in the syllabi varies widely.…

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…

An approach to developing college students' critical thinking skills, designed for freshman composition students but adaptable for other disciplines, is outlined. Components include: establishing bounds of analysis; using bibliography to foster scholarship; capitalizing on emotional response; learning the genre to be analyzed by writing in it;…