In the late 1970s, it became clear to a group of Kirkwood Community College (KCC) faculty and administrators that fewer and fewer students were taking humanities courses, that students' selection of courses was usually imbalanced, and that most had little idea of what the term "humanities" embraced. With a grant from the National…

Two schools of thought exist with regard to the goals of humanities instruction. The "university orientation" places an emphasis upon impersonal, intellectual, and purely academic objectives. The "liberal arts orientation" maintains that humanities instruction should contribute to the beliefs, values, expectations, attitudes, fears, emotions, and…

An examination of both the plight of the humanities and present reasons for a measure of "tempered optimism" is conducted. A profile of the graduate student in the humanities provides a sketch of his qualifications, attitudes, and progress. Increased financial aid, the establishment of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities, and…

This is a students' programmed text for Level Alpha of a humanistic approach to the instruction of Classical Greek and Greek culture in secondary schools. The goals of the program are to help students become aware of: (1) the impact of Hellenic civilization on contemporary society, including the impact of the Greek language on English; (2) the…

This is a teacher's guide for Level Beta of a humanistic approach to instruction of Classical Greek and Greek culture in secondary schools. The goals of the program are to help students become aware of: (1) the impact of Hellenic civilization on contemporary society, including the impact of the Greek language on English; (2) the similarities and…

In 1967, the ITV Humanities project, under a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, sponsored a search for instructional television series proposals which were to show an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of humanities at the high school level. Five proposals were selected to be developed into pilot productions.…

A series of computer science courses at Pennsylvania State University is designed to meet the needs of undergraduate humanities students who wish to use computers. The first of three integrated courses exposes the student to the range of computer applications in the humanities and teaches him to write nontrivial programs in the PL/1 Programing…

This author argues that teachers of the humanities have the potential to enjoy, at the community college level, specific teaching opportunities that their university counterparts are less likely to exercise. University professors of upper-division and graduate students are more likely to find themselves teaching students about the particulars of…

Describes the use of epic poetry in a combined English/history humanities class. Concludes that epic poetry, the combination of history and verse, helps students understand the continuity and meaning of the Western tradition. (CFR)

Observes that the humanities first came under attack immediately after their development in ancient Athens. Describes the fifth-century Sophists who developed an education designed for democracy. Urges support of the humanities today as a training in free citizenship, speech, and thought. Warns that technology cannot solve the problems facing…

The national imperative for increased postsecondary level completions has never been clearer. In order to remain competitive in an ever-changing global market, the United States must produce an educated workforce; one that is ready to lead and inspire a 21st century economy. Recognizing this urgency, the President, several foundations, policy…

Attempts to Indigenise the curriculum run the risk of implying the application of an "impoverished" version of "Aboriginal pedagogy" and the promotion of corrupted understandings of Indigenous knowledge (Nakata, 2004, p. 11). What is required, Nakata (2004, p. 14) argues, is a recognition of the complexities and tensions at…

Dismissed as a passive behavior that comes naturally, listening is, in fact, a complex and learned activity that can be perfected. Like reading, writing, and speaking, listening as a practical activity is critical for success in college life and beyond. But while rhetoric as the art of speaking has been a basic course in higher education for…

Because of its enormous significance to American history, the author wants her students to gain a rich understanding of the Battle at Gettysburg. She also would like them to make a strong emotional connection to it. She wants her students to engage with the Battle of Gettysburg on many levels--to become tangled up with the past. Her goal is to…

Using data on upper-division students in the University of California system, we show that two distinct cultures of engagement exist on campus. The culture of engagement in the arts, humanities and social sciences focuses on interaction, participation, and interest in ideas. The culture of engagement in the natural sciences and engineering focuses…