Describes teaching a course on the history of mathematics intended for prospective teachers. Presents a brief overview of the course created, difficulties encountered, and some solutions discovered. (Author/KHR)

Proposes the use of fictional "techno-thrillers" such as "Red Storm Rising" in a seminar on the topic of war. Explains how these thrillers provide descriptions of how opposing strategies and armies might interact during a future war. Provides a course reading list. (NL)

Describes a personal finance course which uses special assignments designed to improve oral and written communication skills. Discusses assignments such as journal writing, letter writing, discussions with guest speakers, researching major household purchases, and managing a personal investment portfolio. (RS)

Describes the Syllabus Exchange program, developed by the Theater History Focus group of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. Analyzes 22 syllabi to determine the primary goals of teachers of Introduction to Theater; types of assignments given to students; teaching strategies employed; and specific organizations of class materials…

Argues for integrating heterodox economic theory into mainstream economics education. Uses the example of an integrated economic program at Dickinson College (Pennsylvania) to illustrate benefits. Describes components and methodology of the program. Sees positive outcomes for students, faculty, and the discipline. Includes course description,…

Describes a course in which students learn to write rich, accurate, precise, objective description, develop a sensitivity to honest, uninflated language, and demonstrate these skills by producing an action proposal. Describes the three sections of the course: objective description, lessons in language, and grand proposals. (PRA)

Describes a communication course in organizational models and metaphors. Discusses teaching philosophy and six course units, including an exercise in organizational fieldwork. (SR)

Reports on a long-term, large-scale study of a one-semester, conceptually-based, introductory astronomy course with data from more than 400 students over three semesters at the University of New Mexico. Finds that novice students show large, positive gains on assessments of conceptual understanding and connected understanding of the knowledge…

Describes an introductory physics course at the University of the Western Cape that shifted its fundamental approach from a mathematical focus to a conceptual focus based on verbal and written articulation of understanding. Reports that this approach enhanced student understanding of introductory physics. Contains 21 references. (JRH)

Collaborative learning has been gaining momentum as a promising pedagogy in higher education. Research on student collaboration is increasing. However, one arena is often overlooked--faculty collaboration. In this article, a cross-institutional faculty collaboration is presented. The context is faculty collaboration on the design of an…

This article discusses contemporary contextualist curriculum approaches that suggest that both content and meaning can be co-constructed by teachers and learners, can remain flexible and open-ended, and can acknowledge the constant influx of real-life issues that arise in the daily lives of learners. The author, an Assistant Professor of Art…

Human service fields, and more specifically public health, are increasingly requiring evaluations to prove the worth of funded programs. Many public health practitioners, however, lack the required background and skills to conduct useful, appropriate evaluations. In the late 1990s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the…

During the Fall term, 2001, the author taught a new course intended to develop a diversity of close reading skills among his students. An integral component of the course involved the exploration of memory and history. As the fate of the syllabus would have it, right after the September attacks he taught Sarah Farmer's "Martyred Village:…

Secondary vocational-technical education programs in Mississippi are faced with many challenges resulting from sweeping educational reforms at the national and state levels. Schools and teachers are increasingly being held accountable for providing true learning activities to every student in the classroom. This accountability is measured through…

A qualitative study of a pilot writing course for baccalaureate social work (BSW) students evaluated the process and development of students' academic and professional writing. The course provided students the opportunity to build writing skills, develop a professional paper, and present at a national social work conference. Students and…