Describes the use of a learning community where 36 first-year students cohabitated in a single hall of student housing and enrolled in the class, "The American Political System", and a first-year seminar. Discusses the course content, the benefits of the community experience, and how to improve the community. (CMK)

Discusses how to use art in introductory political theory courses. Provides examples of incorporating art to teach political theory, such as examining Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Michelangelo's "David" to understand Florentine (Florence, Italy) political theory. (CMK)

Focuses on the industrialization and economic development section of the Advanced Placement (AP) human geography course, addressing four specific aspects: (1) the character of industrialization; (2) spatial aspects of the rise of industrial economies; (3) contemporary global patterns of industrialization and resource extraction; and (4) impacts of…

Describes a congressional committee simulation used in an introductory U.S. politics course. Explains the simulation enabled students to discover how Congress operates. Discusses the outcomes of the simulation, student responses, and recommendations for using it in upper-level courses. Includes the personality descriptions for the commerce…

Describes an art project in which noodles, the tubular colorful foam floating devices used in swimming pools, were the subject matter. Explains that the students drew their compositions, stretched the paper, and then used watercolor to paint their compositions. Discusses the process in detail. (CMK)

Examining National Center for Health statistics, questions whether fictional television accounts of teenage suicide affect the teenage suicide rate. Assesses four films about teenage suicide, nationally televised in 1984 and 1985. Accounts for holiday and temporal effects, television new stories, and large city influences. Finds that the films did…

A two-year postsecondary program in New York City prepares low functioning young adults with learning disabilities for careers in human services such as day care programs and geriatric centers. Students take courses in social skills as well as academic course work and on-the-job training in child care or geriatrics. (DB)

Describes a graduate level bibliographic instruction course at Columbia University which incorporates computer-based resources and information retrieval and organization, scholarly communication and publishing, and analysis of primary sources. The discussion covers student responses, plans for the future, and the role of academic librarians in…

A national survey of special education coursework requirements for preservice regular education teachers was conducted to (1) identify specific course content (2) identify individual institution or state requirements, and (3) to identify types of direct experience with exceptional learners required of prospective teachers. (Author/DB)

Discusses the Bradley Commission on History in School recommendations as part of the 1980s curriculum reform movement. Examines the problem of too many social science disciplines competing for space within the limited core curriculum. Analyzes several major reports published on social studies curriculum reform. Concludes with further questions…

The selection of an elementary-level reading series in a small California town caused a divisive backlash from some parents who are claiming their rights to supervise their children's reading material. The controversy is reported through excerpts from interviews with representatives from both sides of the issue. (JD)

Describes how a college developmental reading program was changed from three to five semester hours of credit. Addresses changes in staffing, number of course offerings, scheduling, support services, curriculum, teaching methods, and motivational needs.(MG)

Explores the purpose of a university in and for a democracy. Argues that because mass media increase the capacity of dominant groups to impose their beliefs on the populace, teachers must present dissenting views to restore objectivity. Urges colleges to allow courses which focus on how institutions mobilize support for dominant elites of wealth…

The Wooster (Ohio) School District developed a comprehensive program for grades 1 through 12 focused on unique uses of the computer. Staff appointment and equipment purchases extended the learning environment toward the increased use of computers in education. (SI)

Discusses the need for information science schools to prepare graduates for computer use and database design, and reports the findings of a survey of schools that examined the extent to which such courses are taught and the content of those courses. Questions and suggestions about the teaching of database design are also discussed. (four…