Recent years have witnessed the spread of purpose-built active learning classrooms throughout the higher education sector. While these innovative learning spaces are well-suited for a variety of active learning strategies, their lack of a single focal point means they are inconvenient spaces for lecturing. While educational developers often…

In the UK, Latin is often seen as an elitist subject taught largely at fee-paying schools. Over the past generation, however, great strides have been made in opening up the subject to students from all backgrounds. A major hindrance to widening access to Latin at university level is that the language can often prove challenging for students. Data…

Presents a checklist for instructors preparing to teach a large geography lecture class. Suggests having enough supplies, especially paper for copying; ordering enough textbooks; making sure that seats have writing surfaces; writing out examination policies; and other time-saving management procedures. (GG)

Effectiveness of substitute teachers is related to the implementation of strategy for their utilization. If substitutes are expected to do more than control students, then teachers must leave lesson plans, activities, and materials that can be used by anyone. Cooperation and coordination are essential for substitutes' success. (MD)

Considers the relationship between business studies and economics. States that economics is the foundation for business studies and that the abstract theories of economics have a place in the business studies syllabus. Provides an outline for a business studies syllabus. (GG)

Secondary students who read an economics lesson silently scored significantly higher than students who received an oral presentation of the lesson. A significant interaction between lesson organization and student ability level indicated that highly organized economics lessons increase student learning under certain ability level conditions.…

Describes a high school course entitled "Developmental/Speed Reading" and the positive effects of having a wide range of reading levels produce peer pressure toward reading improvement. (RL)

Examined final-year undergraduate responses to innovations to determine whether positive learning outcomes in large classes are possible by increasing the range of work in which students are involved. Straightforward adjustments to approach and style produced both positive learning outcomes and an increase in transferable skills. (RJM)

This paper discusses the challenges and difficulties of adopting new "authentic" methods of instruction that help students not only learn but also develop habits that enable them to use their knowledge more effectively. "Authentic" methods of instruction are defined as those that require students to produce (not just reproduce) knowledge relevant…

Describes the structure of a course for improving oral communication skills of engineering students. Lists suggestions to speakers on preparation, organization, and presentation of material. Additional comments regarding critiques are stated. (RT)

This article overviews a summative evaluation of the School Advisory Center's innovative initial reading curriculum program from 1972 to 1978 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The evaluation design used was Stake's "countenance model" with description and observation matrices. Reading achievement results were disappointing and were attributed…