A participant in a seminar on multiculturalism suggests that the discourse on cultural diversity actually reflects two distinct issues: (1) pluralism, individual dignity, and mutual understanding, and (2) historical oppression and the quest for equity. The challenge for college educators is to bring together these issues and use the college…

Presents an approach to the study of real lenses that would not contradict Fermat's principle. Shows how the rudiments of the correct theory can be incorporated into courses to provide students a clearer notion of what they can expect in laboratory situations. (DDR)

Describes the evolution of an introductory astronomy course from fact driven to concept driven. Presents a rationale for a course designed to engage students in considering answers to the questions "what are we?" and "how do we know what we know?" (DDR)

Describes the topics and teaching strategies employed in an Issues in Biology course. Discusses flowers, plant breeding, potatoes and tomatoes, the chocolate tree, weeds, Arabidopis, gene transfers, and plant genes/human genes. Contains 22 references. (JRH)

Argues that political commentary is excellent pedagogical raw material to help secondary students develop critical thinking. Outlines a lesson plan based on comparing the political commentaries of Rush Limbaugh and Will Rogers. Includes suggested evaluation activities, a list of annotated resources, and excerpts from the writings or statements of…

Argues that advertising students should understand ethnic markets. Finds that only 15% of surveyed advertising professors said their departments offer courses focused exclusively on multicultural issues, only 13% said students were required to take courses relevant to ethnic advertising outside of their department, and over half spent three hours…

Uses an opinionnaire survey to evaluate the opinions of Korean professors in earth science education and geology departments on science concepts related to environmental issues that might be important for secondary preservice earth science teachers. Respondents favored an environmental earth science course that emphasized human impact on the…

Discusses the impact that Charles Eliot had on the development of science education in America starting in the late 1800s. Describes his involvement in the development of the Harvard list of laboratory experiments suggested for all physics students to have completed nationwide for enrollment in college. (MVL)

Uses a South African university course on critical citizenship as case study of the challenges of interdisciplinary education. Shows how the process of identifying generic competencies across humanities disciplines may omit the necessary foundation for achieving those competencies. (SK)

Analyzes disability theory and content in the social work curriculum and advances a theoretically expansive approach to disability that is consistent with social work's commitment to diversity and the elimination of oppression. Suggests shifting disability content from an emphasis on individual deficiency toward addressing disability as the…

Provides a rationale for teaching about controversial issues in science and outlines the pedagogical approaches and types of learning activities that are likely to be successful. (MM)

Interviews with 8 distance course developers, 22 tutors, and 14 students in Hong Kong found that coordinators agreed that values education should be incorporated into distance education through counseling, support services, specific courses, or appropriate examples. Coordinators and tutors thought adult students might resist, but students appeared…

Presents examples of the life experiences of older women from 75 literary works. Provides a thematic content analysis and suggestions for curriculum development. Appendices list the 75 citations, 8 anthologies on aging and literature, and 26 bibliographers. (Contains 36 references.) (SK)

Examines 229 responses from members of the Association for Business Communication (United States) who rated the importance of 30 business communication concepts that were divided into six categories: communication theory, written communication, oral communication, employment communication, technology, and current business communication issues.…

Reflects upon theoretical and applied challenges and needs in incorporating sexual orientation issues into communication studies. Argues that communication courses need to explicitly include material related to the life experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people; and that reducing homophobia and heterosexism among high school…