Discusses the four sections of the Advanced Placement (AP) human geography course focusing on agriculture: (1) development and diffusion of agriculture; (2) major agricultural production regions; (3) rural land use and change; and (4) impacts of modern agricultural change. Includes references and a resource list. (CMK)

Examines the impact of adding interactive video technology in an experimental course, "Congress and the Policy Process", in which the students held conversations with participants in Washington politics who acted as video seminar speakers. Reports that interaction with politicians improved the student learning experiences and grasp of the course…

Provides classroom activities to enable students to learn about the economics of auctions. Explains that the students complete a written assignment listing products that are sold at auctions and participate in a classroom discussion. Includes ideas following the discussion, such as the alternative hypothesis strategy, housing auctions, and…

Suggests that over-emphasis on race and gender are dragging down standards at U.S. colleges and universities and taking minority students with them, noting that academically unchallenging classes harm African American students. Describes how one college professor emailed such an opinion to a student, who passed it on to others and created great…

A survey of 75 business faculty revealed that 80% spent less than 3 hours per year covering Internet privacy issues. There was a discrepancy between self-perceptions of their knowledge of the issues and their ability to answer questions about them. Better-informed faculty were not those who spent the most time addressing the issues. (Contains 22…

Describes tools for measuring content of instruction, content of instructional materials, and alignment between them, reporting findings about use of these tools and possible additional uses for research and practice. Asserts that the validity of data produced using these tools is good. Sketches an agenda for future work to improve the quality and…

Describes a mock trial focused on Jack Kevorkian and an euthanasia case that was included in a psychology and law course. Discusses the course format, provides the reactions to the mock trial by students and consultants, and includes suggestions for improving the mock trial. (CMK)

Describes an assignment in a social psychology course to help students learn about social constraints. Directed students to write a report after either violating a norm or imagining what would happen during a norm violation. Discusses student reaction to the assignment. (CMK)

Describes an "exit" course, Senior Seminar in Communicative Theories, developed for students majoring in Speech Communication at George Mason University. Outlines the evolution of this course and the case for adding such a course to speech communication curricula. (KEH)

Describes a course in modern British literature in which the students developed their own reading list by conferring with the instructor. Notes success in making students active participants in the course. (RS)

Provides demographic profiles from "Executive Educator's" fourth annual survey of U.S. school executives. Regarding disaster preparedness, only a small percentage of all districts in earthquake-prone areas have earthquake and fire action plans. Concerning controversial issues, teaching about substance abuse, child abuse, and teen suicide meets…

The teaching of physics as an integral part of an undergraduate oceanography course is described. A general outline of oceanography and the corresponding physics topics is given. The objectives, organization, and difficulties of such a course are discussed. (CW)

A survey of 198 technology education teachers found 88 percent employed in high schools or junior high schools and only 3.6 percent under age 30. Greatest problems identified were increased academic requirements and lack of financial support. Greatest strengths were course content, staffing, and facilities. (SK)

Discusses four issues relating to the use of controversial books in schools: (1) self-censorship; (2) policy; (3) parents' roles, teachers' roles, administrators' roles; and (4) impact of controversy. Offers suggestions on how parents, community members, administrators, and teachers can contribute to the selection and evaluation of texts in…

Described are the formation, goals, and activities of a network of teachers and students designed to help raise consciousness about conservation topics. A two-week minicourse on tropical diversity, ecology, and society is outlined. (CW)