Opportunities and concerns regarding the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in higher education have evolved along with them. A concern is how their use could support the higher-order learning appropriate for higher education. Grounded in the conversational framework, this case study explored how reflective practice could be fostered in a…

The last decade has brought far-reaching changes in higher education, leading institutions to shift some or all instruction online. This shift to distance learning has contributed to a more significant need for active learning: changing students from passive knowledge consumers into proactive knowledge producers using interactive teaching…

English language teaching (ELT) has played an important role in the Chinese Radio and Television Universities (RTVU) network since its establishment in the late 1970s. Based on a literature review and reflection from an insider's perspective, this paper gives a full account of the RTVU distance ELT model, examining how it supports autonomous…

Reviews surveys on the status of the basic speech communication course. Identifies issues and concerns about instructional approaches, staffing, textbooks, philosophy, etc. (PD)

The history of the basic course in speech communication in college shows that it has maintained a continued emphasis on public speaking and that change has been slow. A review of the literature revealed that the course has been typically viewed as a public speaking course taught in self-contained sections with one instructor responsible for…

This book brings together 17 papers on Women's Studies, in particular on their future in the 1990s and on creating and maintaining Women's Studies programs at institutions of higher education. The first section, "Women's Studies Today," provides full accounts of the development of Women's Studies in Britain within all branches of further…

Observes a general dislike among instructors for large classes. Reviews research which suggests that instruction in large introductory college psychology classes may be superior to more conventional teaching methods. Explains that large group teaching can be helped through audiovisual aids, outlines, and detailed notes. Emphasizes the importance…

Ten major types of evaluation used at Britain's Open University are outlined, including assessment of access, needs, courses, student progress, tutors and counselors, instructional media, computer assisted instruction, other new technologies, and academic staff. References for further reading are provided. (MSE)

Primarily designed for use in teacher education programs, this manual provides education faculty with a resource for building multicultural education training into the teacher education curriculum. Chapter 1 defines terms basic to multicultural education, intercultural communication, and cross-cultural training. Chapter 2 discusses the theory of…

Research funded by the Flexible Learning Advisory Group during 2000-2002 on issues related to online learning and delivery in vocational education and training in Australia was consolidated. Key findings included the following: (1) most students who experienced online learning did so in a conventional class, using face-to-face and other strategies…