Presents a teaching technique in which the instructor alternately dons hats that represent opposing viewpoints. Discusses the educational value of the hat technique in teaching politics and government. Explains the role of students in the exercise and provides a students' evaluation of the technique. Maintains the technique makes abstract concepts…

Argues that the present methods of analysis such as pluralism, elitism, and institutionalism are insufficient paradigms to accurately discuss questions of vital concern to American Indian tribes. A study of 40 political science texts found only one considered to be adequate in describing Indian concerns. (GG)

Examines the relationship between former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's foreign policy and those of his predecessors. Focuses on the differences between Reagan's policies and those of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Analyzes Reagan's policies of containment, human rights, and arms control. Discusses criticisms launched against Reagan's…

Analyzes the foreign policy of former U.S. President Reagan. Discusses Reagan's policies toward the Soviet Union, focusing on his negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev. Assesses the successes and failures of Reagan's foreign policy. Examines the impact of the Reagan Doctrine on world politics, and summarizes his legacy in the foreign policy arena.…

Describes an open admissions program, a public university's nontraditional population, and their unique academic needs. Provides a political science briefing book assignment in which students research and write about one country. Claims the book is effective in helping students to organize and focus their thoughts and to improve their research and…

Suggests ways undergraduate students can perform political data analyses using electronic spreadsheets. Examples include data from presidential elections, voting information, and welfare budgeting. Illustrates how data can be used as a partisan weapon and in making predictions. Emphasis is upon electronic spreadsheets rather than the more advanced…

Scholarship on Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union has been influenced by the cold-war model of persistent competition between two monolithic superpowers. With Eastern Europe in disarray, that model cannot hold up much longer. Marxist theory is now questioned. (MLW)

In a team-taught course that uses political novels and films, the concept of politics becomes more understandable to the students. Three different instructors representing political science, English, and film bring expertise to the course that is not usually possible for a single instructor. (Author/MLW)

Describes an undergraduate class simulation project used to engage student interest in and knowledge of both "The Federalist Papers" and anti-federalist writings. Discusses the importance of simulation in the classroom and provides information concerning implementation of this technique. Notes that the simulation provides experience in…

Comments on the importance of teaching about state and local government, pointing out that it is not emphasized in college introductory U.S. government courses. Argues that the major reason for this lack of instruction is due to scant coverage in U.S. government textbooks. Suggests ways to incorporate this topic into introductory U.S. government…

Describes the ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education (ERIC/ChESS) at Indiana University which is responsible for disseminating information about social studies education. Provides examples of documents and information products from the ERIC database that can be used by teachers of government, civics, and political science.…

Presents activities from an interdisciplinary project studying local watersheds that incorporate a broad spectrum of disciplines including science, math, geography, English, computer science, and political science. Enables students to understand how precipitation changes chemically as it interacts with the soils and human-altered landscape as it…

A University of Idaho introductory course in political science describes basic concepts, institutions, and processes of politics and relate their importance to students' daily lives. The course is comparative in organization and structured to promote critical and analytical thinking about politics. (MSE)

Discusses how political science has shaped educational politics. Examines educational politics' contribution to political science theory-building, highlighting federalism, multiple power centers, race relations, and democratic schooling issues. Explores why educational politics researchers diverge from the new political science paradigm (the…

A study at Britain's University of Brighton assessed the use of the value-added concept to evaluate student performance in an undergraduate program in public administration. Subjects were three cohorts of program graduates (n=31, 36, 45) and three current student cohorts (n=47, 51, 60). The evaluation method attempts to improve on current input…