Presents an open-ended project tailored for a senior kinetics and reactor design course in which basic reactor design equations are used to model the digestive systems of several animals. Describes the assignment as well as the results. (DDR)

Describes how interaction with several polymer manufacturing companies through industrial short courses and research projects has led to the development of dynamic and up-to-date undergraduate and graduate curriculums in polymer science and engineering technology. (DDR)

Describes the development of a course bridging the theory of art history and the practice of studio art courses at St. Olaf College (Minnesota). Addresses the gap often found in higher education between the visual and liberal arts. Discusses the trials and elations of designing a course that overlaps these traditional boundaries. (DSK)

Examines the reactions of freshman engineering graphics students to an interactive multimedia computer compact disk. The disk is used in conjunction with a textbook and a student survey is used to assess reactions to the material. Results indicate that the material helped in understanding the course material. (DDR)

Argues that the rise of Islamic fundamentalism since the Iranian Revolution has generated a number of issues of analytical significance for political science. Describes three main models in teaching and research on Islamic fundamentalism: Islamic exceptionalism, comparative fundamentalisms, and class analysis. Discusses the construction of a…

President Clinton's "Religious Expression in the Public Schools" guidelines, based on 50 years of court rulings, have proved useful and helped reduce controversy. Problems continue in three areas: proselytizing by adults, musical programs falling short of the desired neutrality, and teaching appropriately about religion. Other curricular…

Sets out the positions of Liberal and Communitarian philosophers on the fundamental requirements for a democratic civil society. Argues that a cultural, pluralist, democratic society will be characterized by a diversity of controversial moral positions at a range of levels. Offers discussion as a method of reconciling controversial moral…

Describes a course that is built around student participation in an annual teaching of psychology professional conference. Focuses on course goals and objectives, course requirements, such as written assignments and attendance, and the evaluation of students. Considers benefits of the course. (CMK)

Reviews the topical content and structure of undergraduate community psychology courses, identified via university websites, by examining 24 syllabi. Reveals that prevention is the most frequent topic, "Community Psychology" was the most used text, and research review projects were required in 83% of the courses. (CMK)

A capstone business course sought to develop understanding of integrated organization functions by having cross-functional teams play roles in a hypothetical case. A variety of assessment methods were used. Team teaching proved very time consuming. Students felt challenged by team responsibilities and the ambiguity in the course design. (Contains…

Nurse practitioner students using distance education (n=86) indicated a preference for self-direction, concrete examples, and small-group discussion. Print was their most preferred and audiotapes their least preferred format. Convenience, self-direction, and timing were more important than delivery method or learning style. Preferred order of…

Describes the development of a journalism telecourse that, rather than present videotaped lectures, uses footage from interviews with practicing reporters and television news anchors to illustrate themes and processes in the field. Discusses issues related to the designing of the program, obtaining interviews with eminent journalists, and…

Describes a teacher's relationship with a 15-year-old student whose father's mental illness and abusive manner led the student to try to commit suicide. Raises questions about what a teacher can do for such a student and suggests that reading can be one way that teachers and students can be led to talk about sensitive topics. (TB)

Analyzes a set of undergraduate syllabi for a survey of the history of psychology. Identifies several trends: most instructors rely heavily on textbooks for course organization, three texts accounted for more than 60% of book choices, and newer areas of historical interest did not appear to any substantial degree. (DSK)

Describes a needs assessment at Arizona State University that investigated the optimal instructional content for a foundations course in educational technology; the optimal delivery method; and student attitudes about the use of the Internet for the course. Reports the results of surveys from students, graduates, and faculty. (LRW)