Critiques conventional definitions of terrorism. Advocates sensitizing students to the semantics of terrorism and teaching skepticism of leaders who manipulate such concepts. Recommends using historical case studies to clarify issues, inform students about state and state-sponsored terrorism, and challenge students' preconceptions. Includes a…

Describes the Contemporary World Events and Cultures course of the University of Massachusetts Lowell College of Education, a graduate course designed to develop a multicultural mind set. Experiences of the first class of 20 teachers in a master's program confirm the success of the approach to cultural sensitivity. (SLD)

Directs a class at the University of Minnesota (Duluth) for teachers at developing effective research skills and historical mindedness. Teachers study a topic and write curriculum using primary sources as basic texts. Outlines the curriculum process and includes three case studies. Includes teaching activity worksheets. (NL)

Asserts that an Advanced Placement (AP) course in music theory offers student musicians opportunities to gain new insight into melody, harmony, and structure. Describes content and teaching methods used in an AP music theory program. Discusses necessary teacher characteristics and maintains that both students and teachers benefit from the course.…

Describes an instructional unit using graphic organizers to teach about federalism in a U.S. government course. Includes models of charts and lists of appropriate student responses. (CFR)

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pedagogical approach in which students encounter a problem and systematically set about finding ways to understand the problem through dialogue and research. PBL is an active process where students take responsibility for their learning by asking their own questions about the problem and in this paper we explore…

Even though social studies teachers may value discussion of controversial issues, such practice is rare in most social studies classrooms. Nystrand, Gamoran, and Carbonaro (1998) reported that 90 percent of the instruction they observed in more than one hundred middle and high school classes involved no discussion at all. What teachers cite as…

The majority of literature regarding problem-based learning demonstrates its usefulness as a teaching technique in the natural sciences curriculum. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the broad purpose is to illustrate the application of problem-based learning for instructing students about controversial issues in sociology. Within the…

This article describes the application and outcomes of using a shared framework and vocabulary for understanding learning, the Let Me Learn Process, to create a relational space necessary for constructivist learning. Students in an urban leadership preparation program learned about their own and each other's unique learning patterns and…

The under-representation and poor retention of women in computing courses at Victoria University is a concern that has continued to defy all attempts to resolve it. Despite a range of initiatives created to encourage participation and improve retention of females in the courses, the percentage of female enrolments has declined significantly in…

This case study focuses on qualitative indicators, though a number of quantitative indicators will be included to provide context. Qualitative issues to be looked at will include: education policies and, more specifically, curriculum-related policies containing provisions aimed at gender parity and equality in all aspects of education; gender…

Online education has become a highly debated topic. While some educators see it as a commercialized and prepackaged form of education, one that limits the verbal skills of students, others see it as breaking down the geographical and financial barriers that many students face. Online delivery has changed education in a number of ways, increasing…

I have examined how frequency of assessment impacts learning in an undergraduate biology course employing a student-centered, active-learning pedagogy. Frequent assessment was associated with better student performance and greater retention of course concepts. Improvement of higher-order thinking skills may require more classroom practice.…

The first component of this three-part package is a student manual designed to be used independently in secondary health occupations programs or on-the-job training programs for pharmacy aides. The manual contains six units that cover the following topics: introduction to pharmacy, communication skills, pharmaceuticals, prescription processing,…

In response to national reform movements, an introductory biology content science course specifically designed for elementary education majors has been developed and implemented for 3 years in a collaborative manner between the School of Biological Sciences and the Teachers College. Preliminary and ongoing quantitative survey analysis of teacher…