Students determined to be underprepared for college-level mathematics would be enrolled in a sequence of developmental mathematics courses before taking their college-level mathematics course. Students who started in the lowest level of developmental mathematics had a twenty percent chance of completing their college-level mathematics credits…

As the population ages, more older adults seek learning opportunities in various educational settings. This article highlights the understanding of older adult learners and the greater heterogeneity within this demographic. I explore why and how older adults learn, including their learning needs, the challenges of aging that may affect their…

This study used a needs assessment, process analysis, process design, and textbook design to develop a new process and new textbook, based on Cargile-Cook's layered literacies, Quesenbery's five qualities of usability, and Carliner's information design theories, for use in technical writing service learning courses. The needs assessment was based…

This practitioner issue brief outlines successful strategies and recommendations for state-level policymakers, administrators, schools, and districts that are based on a 5-year evaluation study on the learning environment for ELLs in the state of California. This brief offers four critical building blocks that should be in place to effectively…

Using a Curriculum Characteristics Inventory questionnaire, this study identifies teacher concerns and interests about curriculum materials and discloses teachers' attitudes about the nature and characteristics of curriculum materials. Teachers rated six characteristics in the following order of priority: 1) relevance of subject matter, 2)…

Reports on an informal round-table discussion with educators and computer science experts about computer literacy and the role of computers in education, which was conducted at the National Educational Computing Conference. (Author/JJD)

Contains suggestions for lesson planning and instructional strategies that are based upon individual student needs and high teacher expectations within increasingly diverse classrooms. Discusses planning around the concept of a planning pyramid of student learning. Presents a sample lesson plan about immigration to the United States. (DSK)

This paper identifies five difficulties in teaching the analysis of social problems, and proffers "mind maps," a concept that refers to the ways in which students create a visual representation of their thinking patterns, as a possible solution. In constructing mind maps, especially for a Social Problems course, the following four steps…

When basic instructional design issues (goals, nature of the subject matter, and needs of the learner) are taken into consideration, different distance learning models may emerge as appropriate for different learning situations. A systematic approach to design and development of instruction allows for viewing the instructional process as a set of…

This dissertation examines teaching and learning issues surrounding orthography in a community college setting. Spelling materials were designed in English and given to college-level English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students, with the goal of giving learners a means to integrate the experiences of speaking and writing English. Following an…

A study evaluated attempts to meet college students' needs through procedures involving differential reading assignments, in a variety of textbooks, based on how students classified themselves on a simple instrument. Students were placed in one of four modular groups based upon their response to an exercise, given on the first day of class, which…

A collection of 16 articles addressing the future of faculty and instructional development in higher education is presented. The articles are categorized under four main subject headings: (1) Faculty Development: Where It Is; Where It's Going; (2) Building Successful Faculty Development Programs; (3) Issues and Approaches in Faculty and…

Offers faculty a systematic way to implement technology/print combinations relative to distance learners' needs and backgrounds. Categorizes types of learner interactions, and discusses the relevance of the entry-level knowledge of the learner to appropriate technology selection. (AEF)

Provides an overview of the criticism leveled at the use of Total Quality Management (TQM) in teaching economics. Proposes an alternative use of TQM that relies more on traditional student-teacher interaction. The alternative TQM uses quality circles, one-minute papers, and quality check sheets. (MJP)

This booklet is designed to help teachers integrate curriculum, strategies, evaluation, and learners' needs within the context of the larger education picture and to encourage teachers to revisit the fundamentals of education in light of professional teaching experience. The booklet includes places for the reader to record his/her own thoughts and…