Reviews three areas of history education reform: (1) teachers must be grounded in the content of their discipline; (2) more collaboration between teacher education and arts and sciences faculty; and (3) systems of evaluation and assessment for students and teachers. Describes the University of Northern Colorado program that provides teacher…

Research on variables that may bias student ratings of faculty have found them generally insignificant, but students do rate differently by academic field. The real problem arises from not knowing why this occurs. Institutions and individuals should decide how they will take these differences into consideration when interpreting student ratings.…

Describes a study that analyzed 16 library periodicals with respect to various characteristics of their authors, including sex, occupation, affiliation, and geographic location. Previous studies of the literature of librarianship are reviewed, subject coverage and research methodologies are examined, and article length is noted. (58 references)…

Differences in critical thinking between undergraduate and graduate students in the social and mathematical sciences was investigated using multiple measures of critical thinking that reflect different types of problem structure. Educational level and academic area differences were found across measures. (Author/MLW)

Examines the role of critical language in film criticism. Compares and contrasts Monroe Beardsley's philosophy on film aesthetics with the New Criticism. Outlines some of the contributions Beardsley has made to the study of film criticism. (KM)

Average Scholastic Aptitude Test verbal and mathematics scores are charted according to the total number of years the students tested studied 6 subjects (arts and music, English, foreign language, mathematics, natural science, and social sciences and history) in high school, ranging from fewer than 15 to over 20 hours. (MSE)

Writing-across-the-curriculum programs in secondary schools may have been fostered by the same body of knowledge as those in colleges and universities, but their evolution has been shaped by a different set of circumstances. Development of articulation programs between these institutions requires an understanding of their different contexts. (MSE)

Two lessons from comparable undergraduate courses in physics and engineering are analyzed to identify content, issues emphasized, and concepts used. Differences reflecting the pure nature of one field (physics) in contrast to the applied nature of the other are identified. Implications for classroom instruction and for research on college teaching…

One college professor finds that while supplemental instruction (SI) sessions in the humanities resemble those in social, physical, and biological sciences, there are also qualitative differences that derive from discipline-specific expectations. These are rooted in the epistemology and axiology of the humanities, the expansive nature of…

Describes a survey of academic libraries that explored serials collection assessment. Highlights include serials budget allocations; serials cancellation projects; changes in ratio of allocation by subject area; use of computers for serials collection assessment; use of vendors, especially for statistics; and future plans for collection…

A study based on national data found that the average duration of doctoral study was related to departmental emphases on scholarly careers and the resources to implement those emphases. Patterns varied by general discipline area and by specific discipline, suggesting a need for detailed analysis by discipline. (Author/MSE)

Discusses the nature of social studies as a discipline. Defines it as citizenship education for teaching students how to deal with change and conflict in society. Suggests that social studies teachers believe that content should be interdisciplinary, emphasize themes and concepts dealing with social and personal issues, and teach the process of…

The design and development of a university course aimed to meet the needs of English-as-a-Second-Language liberal arts students is reported. The development of critical language awareness in relation to general and subject-specific study skills is discussed, and the term "critical communication skills" is introduced. (78 references)…

Traces the development of political science as an academic discipline in Nigeria. Examines the role and activities of professional associations as related to political science and political science's impact on the public policy process and society. Includes sample course outlines and syllabi to further describe the growth and development of the…

Describes the United Kingdom's National Writing Project, examining schools in Berkshire that emphasized writing to teach secondary school students science, math, design, and technology. Results suggest teachers need more knowledge about writing for learning in school subjects if they are going to stress the role of writing across the curriculum.…