A novel approach for teaching interpolation in the introductory course in numerical analysis is presented. The interpolation problem is viewed as a problem in linear algebra, whence the various forms of interpolating polynomial are seen as different choices of a basis to the subspace of polynomials of the corresponding degree. This approach…

Optimal learning occurs when students are interested in the subject matter, are motivated with challenging and quality learning opportunities, and when immersed in atmospheres that make learning enjoyable. One technique to promote optimal learning is through the use of constructive controversies. The purpose of this study was to provide an example…

In spite of advances in physics pedagogy, the lecture is by far the most widely used format of instruction. We investigated students' understanding and perceptions of the content delivered during a physics lecture. A group of experts (physics instructors) also participated in the study as a reference for the comparison. During the study, all…

Community college educators seek to infuse their workforce courses with more "real world" activities. This 3-year case study examined how 7 instructors and 78 students in California and Texas responded to the changes involved in implementing one type of reform program--the scenario-based curriculum (Schank, 1997). The study shows that…

Medical and nursing schools in the United States have traditionally had a limited emphasis on end-of-life care. The present study is a comparison of these 2 professional programs' current offerings on death education. Data were gathered via a mailed survey from the 122 medical schools in 2005 and the 580 baccalaureate nursing programs in 2006.…

The curricula for preparing music specialists has remained largely unchanged for decades. In this time, most professions have moved toward preparing specialists while the music education profession has moved toward preparing generalists. The author examines how this is unrealistic and out of touch with the times and the future. Furthermore, the…

Classroom debates used to be familiar exercises to students schooled in past generations. In this article, the authors describe the technique called "intimate debate". To cooperative learning specialists, the technique is known as "structured debate" or "constructive debate". It is a powerful method for dealing with case topics that involve…

How does service learning impact content acquisition? Undergraduate pre-service teachers participating in a literacy tutoring service-learning experience are compared with pre-service teachers engaged in self-selected and independently directed tutoring sessions. The findings of this study support previous assertions that service-learning…

In the theme of insecurity there is a potential for peace education to address social education. Insecurity underpins the arms race and lies at the root of the growing cycle of violence. Peace education must help students understand the forms of structural injustices that preserve inequities and breed violence. (RM)

Summarizes the response to complaints that a class examining the sociology of minorities unfairly emphasized negative behavior. The course was restructured to include an examination of resistance and interracial cooperation against racism. This new perspective was incorporated into writing assignments, class discussions, and instructional…

A unit in a college course on technology and human values involves the students' questioning of traditional Western values as they relate to technological rationalism, calling dominant ideology into question. The approach is based on Paulo Freire's problem-posing pedagogy, and incorporates analysis of selected paintings from the Futurist movement.…

"Metaphor: Theory and Practice," a senior/graduate seminar taught at Loyola Marymount University, was something of an experiment. Its goal was to engage students in theoretical explorations of metaphor, in analysis of metaphor growing out of those theories, in the creation of their own metaphoric texts, and finally, in the development of…

The current uniform content of college reading programs can be expanded to include insights from other disciplines, specifically those areas of instruction which pertain to the neuropsychological mechanisms governing behavior, especially language behavior. There are several reasons for expanding the boundaries of college reading programs to…

Although the National Curriculum Council for England and Wales has recognized environmental education as one of five cross-curricular themes in school education, it has not achieved the same degree of influence in the Further and Higher Education (FHE) sector. This document recommends that a program be developed for that purpose. The booklet is…

Given the nature of current forensic practices, there is no sound pedagogical linkage between argumentation and forensics. The past 30 years have witnessed a consistent decline in the scope and diversity of forensic activities, and forensics has become synonymous with contest debating. Debate has become a technical, specialized, jargonized…