Discussion of the Internet focuses on the role of social presence and its relation to feelings of isolation and connectedness in asynchronous online discussions in higher education. Examines the participation of teachers and students in building a community of learners, and the dilemma of too much or too little social interaction. (Author/LRW)

Traces the role to be played by faculty and students of a language department that focuses on intercultural communication. Looks at ways in which the meanings and functions of cultures are examined in both programs, with special emphasis on the appropriateness of their curricula in the conditions of globalization. (Author/VWL)

Explores the connection between U.S. college students' increased career orientation and the growth of geographic information systems (GIS) and experiential education in the curricula of U.S. geography programs. Maintains that the discipline should not focus only on the technical aspects of geography but beware also of neglecting the general…

Continues the discussion on graduate seminars begun in the authors' article "Rethinking the Graduate Seminar." States that the goal of the article was to encourage dialogue about how to teach the graduate seminar effectively. Addresses the responses from the other articles in this issue of "Teaching Sociology." (CMK)

Describes a project in which beginning string students teach an adult how to play their instruments, and then the adults perform at the first student performance. Discusses the educational benefits resulting from this project. Includes guidelines that will help students teach the adults to play their instruments. (CMK)

This research reports on prospective middle school teachers' perceptions of a "best mathematics class" during their involvement in an inquiry-designed mathematics content course. Grounded in the prestigious Glenn Commission report (U.S. Department of Education, 2000), the study examined the prospective teachers' perceptions of effective…

This study examines the relationships of college student employment and its effect on student life. Approximately 500, 19-24 year old, mid-western university undergraduates participated in an "on-line" survey. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analyses, reliability and correlations. Study time/student time positively correlated with…

This paper examines the role of student consultation and participation in the process of improving the physical environment in schools. Although quantitative studies suggest that there are some links between the learning environment and school performance, direct causal relationships between these factors remain unclear. However, as Clark points…

This article reports on a research project that investigated the experiences and perceptions of staff supervising final year social science undergraduates enrolled on a dissertation module in a post-1992 UK university. Using data from semi-structured interviews, the article explores staffs perspectives of the supervision process, the different…

Teachers who want to involve their pupils in classroom drama need to be aware of the necessary conditions for dramatic engagement. In this article we seek to identify four conditions for the preparation of successful drama, and support our argument with reference to Shakespearean drama. The conditions are identified as: agreement by the…

In the research about the educational experiences of refugee students, few articles describe how recently-arrived refugee students and their families make their transition to public schools in the U.S. and how they negotiate success in a formal schooling environment. In order to illuminate these processes, the author conducted an in-depth study of…

The term of "new technological paradigm" is become an indispensable concept for all educational organizations. Consequently there is a growing necessity to describe what the term technological paradigm is. With the gaining speed of technological changes, a new dimension of educational and training paradigm is being formed. The sources of this…

The paper addresses the question of how to design for learning taking place on mobile and wireless devices. The authors argue that learning activity designers need to consider the characteristics of mobile learning; at the same time, it is vital to realise that learners are already creating mobile learning experiences for themselves. Profound…

This article discusses "Universities of the Third Age", whose function is quite distinct from established universities' traditional role in teaching, research, and community services. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a model of partnership between traditional universities and Universities of the Third Age, ensuring better…

Background: Existing research suggests that one of the challenges for teachers in persisting with innovative inquiry curricula is their difficulty scaffolding students' transitions into technology-supported and open-ended activities. The question of whether students can effectively scaffold one another's transitions has not been previously…