College and university learning communities build a sense of group identity. Institutions are establishing them for varied purposes and student populations, including first-year interest groups, general education core courses, gateway courses, developmental and basic studies, honors programs, and work in the major or minor. For implementation,…

Discussion of college internship programs for college students looks at their potential for experiential learning (EL), integration of EL into the curriculum, establishment of a committee to oversee EL, program standards, program models, the student's role in selecting a placement, student orientation needs, time spent on the job, coursework and…

Describes a large-enrollment accounting course at Brigham Young University (Utah). This case focuses on the possibility of using blended approaches to reduce faculty time, re-focus student time, and raise the possibility of using blended learning as a way to admit more students to an academic program. (MES)

A survey investigated the status of a program that simultaneously encourages minority health occupations graduates to pursue teaching and helps repay their student loans. The federal program, with 16 schools and 35 students participating, has been instrumental in recruiting teachers, but has not resolved financial difficulties for some…

A British national study of the university research enterprise in 1995-96 assessed the impact of a 1992 change in higher education policy to restructure the entire higher education system. The study investigated impact at the system, institution, unit, and individual levels, in the areas of research policy and strategy, structures, and processes.…

Examines the effects of group gender composition and the use of nonverbal computer mediated communication on performance and motivation following a biology lesson which used a computer image of a human face. Subjects were boys and girls ages 10 to 15. Findings indicate that anxiety had opposite effects for boys and girls when the computer-animated…

This is the second article in the series entitled "Reaching Distance Students with Computer Network Technology." It discusses the use of computer network technology to supplement other learning resources and online activities for optional assignments involving e-mail, online research, library catalogs, databases, electronic journals, and…

Considers the rationale and possible design for a university-level general language education curriculum in South African universities. Suggested components include language awareness (metalinguistics), cultural context, knowledge about language acquisition, and language learning strategies. Identifies practical, implementation issues of such a…

Explores elements of game design: entertainment, fantasy, nonthreatening reality, objectives, rules, opposition, hazards, outcomes; a rationale for using games in courseware; advantages of World Wide Web Instructional gaming: asynchronous learning opportunities, process data gathering, real-time interaction across geographically dispersed…

Criticizes arguments for providing a global perspective for sociology through greater use of interdisciplinary and international materials. Maintains that these materials simply will be fitted into predetermined categories and approaches. Recommends adopting a world-historical perspective that rejects nationalist comparisons and accepts patterns…

Drawing from a current study, this article identifies critical issues and challenges for alternative educators and administrators. It contains a list of questions that can be used to identify and address key issues in alternative settings in order to promote successful school experiences for students with and without disabilities. (Contains…

Discusses which kinds of data educators should respect and which they should reject. Asserts that most state accountability tests fail to produce the kinds of data that will improve teaching and learning. Teachers can get the data they need from their own instructionally useful classroom assessments. (WFA)

A senior foundation executive addresses a number of concerns about higher education's performance, including the low national college completion rate, decreasing minority enrollment, programs poorly designed for nontraditional students, cooperation with two-year and technical institutions, lagging minority faculty recruitment, and contributions to…

Offers guidelines for administering college computing services, including recommendations for setting up the administrative structure, staffing, budgeting, defining the job functions of responsible administrators, involving faculty, managing equipment and services, coordinating computing needs, and preparing for the future. (GFW)

Describes possible future uses of multimedia computers for instructional applications. Highlights include databases; publishing; telecommunications; computers and videocassette recorders (VCRs); audio and video digitizing; video overlay, or genlock; still-image video; videodiscs and CD-ROM; and hypermedia. (LRW)