This paper discusses the use of reflective learning in service-learning projects in three different undergraduate courses. In a small group communications course, groups of five or six students were assigned to work with a non-profit agency to assist them in solving a problem. The students reflected on their group meetings in journals and wrote…

Perspectives on the adult nontraditional student are offered. Nontraditional students usually have multiple commitments, are not campus focused, and participate in informal learning. Needs of the nontraditional/adult learner concern the following areas: service and support, personal/social development, academic preparation, academic…

A study investigated the effects of instructional materials for goal-setting on students' goal-analysis skill, goal-setting habits, and self-efficacy for self-regulated learning (SESRL). Subjects were 75 junior and senior college students in a required health science course, randomly assigned to use either one of two sets of self-instructional…

This paper discusses moral development as an integral part of the educational process and development of college students. The paper's first section places the concept of development within a network of meaning that indicates "ethical development" to be redundant; i.e., if something enhances development, it is ethical, and if it is ethical, it…

An innovative teaching method used in a theories of personality class at Eastern New Mexico University is described. The objectives of this method were to foster growth in creativity among students by involving them in creative activities or experiential sessions and to test for improvement in student creativity scores. The following procedure was…

A variety of departmental and student outcomes data was obtained and analyzed from faculty and graduating seniors in 27 academic departments located at a university classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research II institution. The purpose of the study was to determine: (1) whether strong research orientation by an academic department…

This volume contains the text of six speeches selected from approximately 125 plenary talks that have been given over the past few years at more than 40 Freshman Year Experience Conferences by leading educators concerned about improving the first year undergraduate experience. In the first speech, "The Undergraduate Experience: Critical…

This study investigated the amount of structure preferred by college students in a learning environment and evaluated responses using a notion of conceptual level. The theory of conceptual level suggests that students at higher conceptual levels prefer more independence and less structure in learning while students at lower conceptual levels…

Changing student demographics in higher education, especially increased numbers of older and/or working students, have inspired experimentation with a variety of class scheduling and degree program formats. This study investigated two such formats: (1) cohort programs (requiring students to take all or nearly all courses together toward a degree)…

This study compared the effects of personal characteristics and teaching practices in the development of professional competencies by undergraduate engineering students. A survey completed by 480 engineering students gathered information concerning students' personal, academic, and demographic characteristics; characteristics of their current…

In an attempt to make basic social science education more responsive to the needs of students in a rapidly changing society, the authors developed and conducted an experimental course entitled "Economics and Politics in a Changing Society" (EPICS). The goals of this course include improvement in thinking ability and creativeness, progress in…

Studies on the effects of student-faculty interaction and connections between student-faculty interaction and institutional characteristics, college administration, and academic instruction are reviewed. Attention is directed to research investigating the correlations between student-faculty interaction and student development, student…

The Student as Learner Inventory, which was developed at Alverno College (Wisconsin), is described. Alverno College is a private, 4-year liberal arts college for women with an enrollment of 2,500 students. The inventory, which is completed by entering and second semester students in an undergraduate program, is integral to the curriculum. The…

This 2-year study looked at the effects of incorporating reflective journals within a workshop approach into graduate and undergraduate education courses. The workshop approach involves four key components: (1) reflective journals, (2) individual student-professor conferences, (3) structured small group discussions of project progress with peers,…

Canadian journals in psychology, education, and higher education were reviewed to assess the contribution of psychology to Canadian higher education. Over 100 articles were selected, plus books and monographs published between 1970 and 1980. The articles were grouped according to whether they dealt with cognition and learning; instruction; student…