Public disenchantment with the philosophy that has grown up around professional practice, the mindset that reduces the public to patients, supplicants, clients, consumers, and audiences, is an attitude that higher education needs to understand to reshape the way our institutions serve the public and educate professionals. Professional practice…

In an interview, the incoming president of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO), Thomas L. Lewis, discusses his goals for the association, the challenges facing optometric education in the next decade, cooperation between ASCO and other professional organizations in optometry, his mentors in the profession, his focus as a…

Small-group, self-directed, problem-based learning can be conducted with or without a faculty tutor. Groups without a tutor are trained to manage problem solving, change, group process, critical thinking, and independent learning skills. Processing issues are very different for tutorless and tutored groups; some issues are experienced by both.…

A study investigated use of homework assignments in lieu of course examinations in a pharmacy course on over-the-counter drugs. Teachers read homework and commented on it without grading, and students predicted their grades based on the comments; an overall feedback sheet was also provided to students. Students felt this a good alternative to…

Describes a program template designed to organize lecture materials and easily display relevant text, graphics, video, and interactive questions. Compares this software that is directly linked to course objectives with a well-rated, commercially available program. (DDR)

The relationships among college teaching, scholarship, and research are complex and not easily evaluated. Assertions that teaching and research are incompatible should be regarded with skepticism. At leading research universities, teaching standards and performance have been high and appear to remain so. (SLD)

Barriers to health care careers for rural Western Australian students were examined through interviews with 209 students from 15 secondary schools, 62 parents and grandparents, 76 teachers, and 4 Aboriginal and Islander education officers. Students were constrained by isolation, cost, stereotypes, insufficient information about the diversity of…

A distance education program in mental health was delivered to 31 rural health professionals in Western Australia who dealt with mentally ill patients at the primary level. Evaluation on completion and 4 months postprogram indicated that participants learned mental health management regimes, developed mental health assessment skills, improved…

Argues for altering the balance between research and teaching at the university level to improve science education for undergraduates. Recommends changing the tenure and promotion guidelines to recognize high-quality teaching, redefining good scholarship to include innovative teaching methods, introducing professional development programs to…

Presents the findings of a survey done in England and Wales on gender differences in graduate students' image of primary teaching as a career. Focuses on the perceptions of men planning to work with younger children and older children respectively. Includes references. (CMK)

A study surveyed 38 rural high school career advisers in New South Wales (Australia) to examine how they promote health careers to high school students. Visits to schools by students enrolled in tertiary health courses and locally practicing health professionals, and health careers site visits were considered to be most effective. Includes…

Discusses changes in nation's work force during the 1990s and challenges changes will pose for recruiters. Issues discussed include decline in number of entry-level recruits, feminization of work force, growth of minorities, employment of the disabled, and disparity in supply and demand of technical college graduates. Presents checklist for…

This special issue presents commissioned papers and responses to them from the American Society of Allied Health Professions Critical Issues Conference on independent practice and its implications for policy, medical care, and professional autonomy. Authors are Havighurst, Hershey, Gillespie, Cronin, Jones, Ramsey, Thomas, McTernan, Burian,…

Presents reasons for introducing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) into a medical sociology course. States course objectives are to demonstrate relationship between the biological and the social in health and disease; describe crisis for the health system; discuss AIDS in a developing nations context; and demythologize AIDS and increase…

Describes survey in which rural elementary and secondary teachers ranked stress causes and coping strategies. Top causes included oversized classes, low salaries, high workload, and lack of public concern. Breaks down and examines results by age, gender, and years of experience. Recommends further research. (TES)