Presents a sociology program through three models of curriculum: (1) faculty centered; (2) discipline centered; and (3) student community based curricula. Explores the experiences with these models and reveals that curricular development as a social process can be used to lay a foundation for social context based assessment. (Author/KDR)

Describes different assessment designs available for different types of curricula. Reports results from a quasi experimental design comparing the level of critical sociological reasoning skills among students near the beginning and those finishing their studies. Believes the multi dimensional diversity within sociology presents the greatest…

Discusses how to develop a history course using the World Wide Web; course development software; full text digitized articles, electronic books, primary documents, images, and audio files; and computer equipment such as LCD projectors and interactive whiteboards. Addresses the importance of support for faculty using technology in teaching. (PAL)

Discusses a companion course designed to accompany an introductory chemistry course for preservice teachers. Includes examples of curricular materials and student work. (DDR)

Reports on a study of a pilot model of a laboratory training course that provides preservice secondary science teachers the opportunity to explore pedagogical possibilities and gain hands-on experience running a general chemistry lab. (DDR)

Analyzes how textbooks define and describe an earthquake focus or hypocenter. Provides examples from textbooks that reflect an absence of precision in words and diagrams that can foster misconceptions. Discusses the origin of the problems. (DDR)

Summarizes the digital engineering design process using software widely available for the educational setting. Points out that newer technology used in the field is not used in engineering graphics education. (DDR)

Presents a simple technique for teaching the Cournot model to first-year microeconomic students. Involves demonstrating, without the use of derivatives, that out of all rectangles with a common perimeter, the square has the greatest area. (RLH)

Describes interest in the behavior of random processes with positive feedback. Explains that simulation of the law of large numbers with increasing amounts of feedback makes instruction of random processes with positive feedback possible for undergraduate students. (RLH)

A discussion of the role of biology in the social work curriculum provides evidence of the need for biology content, considers obstacles to infusing biological material into existing curricula, and suggest alternative models for integrating biology into the master's level program. (Author/MSE)

A student of the 1950s reflects on how moral issues were ignored in both the college curriculum and campus activities, and reviews research on moral development. Milestones in research on moral development since then are reviewed and applied to circumstances of individual colleges to encourage the creation of opportunities for student moral…

Argues that news-writing instruction that relies on explicit rules is inadequate because: (1) rule violations are common; (2) some rules work well only in particular situations; and (3) some rules overgeneralize. Identifies the difficulty of teaching students to develop a "good ear" for writing. Concludes that instruction must balance…

Presents an overview of the Advancing the Humanities Project, which provides 24 community colleges with assistance in developing and improving the study of the humanities on their campuses by having them work with the directors of exemplary programs. Offers profiles of the 8 exemplary programs. (DMM)

Points out the need for improving the nation's higher education curricula. Offers reasons for supporting a core curriculum and describes difficulties in developing such a program. Provides a summary of the National Endowment for the Humanities' report "50 Hours: A Core Curriculum for College Students." (KO)

Pharmacology embraces the physical and chemical properties of drugs; the preparation of pharmaceutical agents; the absorption, fate, and excretion of drugs; and the effects of drugs on living systems. These guidelines represent a consensus on what would constitute a minimally acceptable pharmacology course for predoctoral dental students. (MLW)