Research and theory suggest that college students' motivation to learn is related to their epistemological beliefs. Faculty can promote student motivation by designing learning activities that facilitate student development of more sophisticated epistemological beliefs. Faculty developers can assist in this by giving special attention to the…

A discussion of college faculty development and its role in improving college instruction focuses on current trends in several related areas (faculty development, instructional development, organizational development, and personal development for teachers), emerging needs and priorities, development program staffing, and obstacles to program…

Based on a review of studies on junior faculty development programs, this paper focuses specifically on development of research skills. It stresses the importance of administrative support, good management, orientation toward the future, collegiality, mentoring, group projects, research centers, travel money, time for research, financial support,…

By combining modest stipends, contracts, well-structured training, instructional videotapes, individual consultations, written reports, and public recognition for faculty participants, the College of Marin (California) program in faculty classroom research has thrived. Although improved academic achievement has not been substantiated, several…

In one state university, an administrator, working closely with a small group of faculty, established a classroom research group which built on the successes and visibility of an existing campuswide faculty development program. The group won colleague acceptance by fostering interaction and cooperation across disciplines and following a patient…

A review of studies of mentoring for new college faculty suggests practical guidelines for maximizing the mentoring experience. Recommendations include "cataloging" (of past, current, and planned activities); group mentoring; and application of a theory stressing involvement, regimen, solving the right problem, and social networking. (DB)

Approaches to developing teaching assistant programs are discussed, based on the organizational change literature. Five models are identified: rational planning, social interaction, human problem solving, political models, and a research and development approach. Political processes often can be blended with social interaction and problem-solving…

Instructional technology, seen broadly, includes teaching methods, classrooms, and the training of faculty in addition to traditional considerations of instructional equipment and materials. In the near future, societal pressures will force college faculty to overcome resistance to instructional use of technology. (Author/MSE)

The University of Guelph's Office for Educational Practice, an administrative unit for instructional development that relies on faculty volunteer leadership and participation, is described and discussed in the context of research on improvement of instructional effectiveness. (MSE)

The implications for administrators, instructional staff, faculty and teaching assistant developers, and students of efforts to address college classroom diversity are summarized; resource people at colleges and universities with successful programs are listed; and an annotated bibliography of related print materials is provided. (Author/MSE)

Multimedia instruction, a computer-based system incorporating video, audio, and digital storage media, provides educators with the tools to bring learning alive. With strategic planning, adequate funding, and faculty development, multimedia may become the most common form of instructional technology by the late 1990s. (Author/MSE)

Consultants and clients take on various roles when they engage in discussions about college teaching. There are several models applicable to this interaction. More attention should be focused, in both research and practice, on the interactive style of the consultant and client and its contribution to effective consultation. (MSE)

This journal presents a collection a essays that offer several new perspectives on teaching practice; give descriptive and narrative accounts of curricular and teaching innovations; and discusses a range of shared learnings obtained from public university, community college, and private college multicultural change processes. Chapters and their…

Librarians can promote and improve their programs of bibliographic instruction through a faculty development effort on undergraduate use of the college library. Results of this kind of program have included improved course assignment formulation, imaginative assignments, and new, library-centered courses. (MSE)

To be approached realistically, improvement of college teaching must be viewed from a faculty perspective. The real world of college teaching offers little information about objectives and outcomes. The situation can be changed most effectively by increasing available information and stimulating communication among faculty about instruction. (MSE)