Technology can contribute to increased learning productivity by offering economies of scale and mass customization, enabling faculty to accommodate individual differences and students to progress at their own pace. The areas that can profit most from technology-based strategies are those that have a high volume of students, a standardized…

The University of Wisconsin Madison has a speech code that punishes faculty who make offensive remarks in the classroom. The code, declared unconstitutional in 1991 by a federal judge, has now been revised by a panel of professors, administrators, and students to allow faculty to teach controversial subjects, even if some students are offended in…

Describes a survey of graduates from master's in library and information studies programs concerning social responsibility and gender issues and the treatment that these subjects received in their classes. Results are discussed that indicate that librarians and library education are less progressive than commonly depicted, and a copy of the survey…

Discusses the experience of developing and teaching the online course entitled "History of American Since 1865" at Danville Community College. Focuses on issues such as course content and student response. States that online courses offer teachers a chance to reach students who usually avoid taking traditional lecture and discussion courses. (CMK)

Describes the use of a Web-based conferencing system in graduate courses for enhancing interpersonal communication among students and the instructor, resolving problems related to course content and procedures, and providing the instructor with feedback on the course. Discusses achievement gains, student attitudes, and improving student learning.…

Presents strategies needed by instructors changing to electronic instruction delivery systems in higher education. Topics include developing pedagogical goals, including interactive learning; organization and hierarchy of course content; communications skills; making students feel welcome; fostering student-to-student collaboration; providing…

Discusses the experiential activities that are used in a graduate course on qualitative research that addresses focus groups, observation, data collection, cultural sensitivity, ethnomethodology, data analysis, and morals and ethics in research. Explains that students participate in an activity in which they defend qualitative research. (CMK)

Discusses a University of Arizona History and Philosophy in Art Education course and its use of distance education. Focuses on conversational learning, describing the two forms of student interaction and the use of reflection on the distance education experience. Provides some topics to consider when using distance learning. (CMK)

Suggests the ultimate competition for writers of contemporary adolescent fiction is life--the world that children inhabit is getting stranger and stranger. Discusses parents' and adolescents' different reactions to the novel "Boys Lie," which addresses the issues of rape and sexual harassment. Presents reactions to the speech and the responses of…

Describes the Southwest Texas State University course "History Practicum: Researching, Writing, and Publishing Local History" that stresses computer proficiency, teamwork, and active learning. Students create and publish a guidebook for a town, city, or historic site in central Texas. Discusses the publication process of "San Marcos: A Guide to a…

Describes an assignment in an undergraduate course on Roman history for junior and senior history majors in which students create their own 15-page textbook using primary sources. Explains how each class session developed student analysis of primary sources. (CMK)

Reflects on the experience of being in an Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. history course in high school. Stresses that the intent of the course was only to prepare students to score well on the AP examination. Asserts that the course should have aimed beyond teaching to the test. (CMK)

Addresses the Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. government and politics course at Jordan High School in Long Beach (California), an inner city school with a diverse student population. Describes the course and discusses its success and benefits. (CMK)

States that high school teachers can handle rigorous advanced placement courses in world history or world civilizations if they (1) have access to good teaching materials and (2) have been provided with the proper training. Address both issues, listing reading materials and describing the aspects involved in training teachers. (CMK)

Focuses on the reproduction of knowledge in science education and how socio-scientific issues are depicted/accounted for. Reviews contemporary epistemological questions of knowledge production. Outlines the Actor Network Theory (ANT), an alternative epistemology, describing the principal tenets using examples from the nature/nurture debate.…