Online courses have become an increasingly common feature of the higher education landscape, expanding access and offering flexibility for students. Yet, they also pose unique challenges. Research has documented concerning performance gaps between students enrolled in face-to-face and online courses, while faculty have reported difficulties…

Student teaching as the culminating experience of a teacher preparation program has been shown to be of great importance in the preparation of pre-service agricultural educators (Harlin, Roberts, Mowen, Edgar, & Briers, 2007; Roberts, Mowen, Edgar, Harlin, & Briers, 2007; Kitchel & Torres, 2006, 2007; Myers & Dyer, 2004). Kolb's…

Much theorization and research have been done independently on thinking styles and psychosocial development. The primary objective of this research was to further investigate the predictive power of thinking styles for psychosocial development through replicating Zhang and He's (in press) study of Chinese university students in Shanghai, mainland…

Investigated learning style changes of college business students over their college careers. Undergraduate business students (n=178) from two universities completed 1985 Learning Style Inventory in fall semesters of their sophomore, junior, and senior years. Results offered mixed support for contention that learning styles are likely to change…

Studies the role of thinking style development in 245 Chinese college students. Results indicated that thinking styles predicted students' sense of purposefulness, an important dimension in psychosocial development. Suggests that theories of intellectual styles should be integrated into the traditional family of student development theories.…

Investigated the metacognitive development of a group of students in a course aiming to develop deep approaches and conceptual understanding. Found considerable diversity in the approaches used by students, and also in the degrees to which those not initially using a conceptual (deep) approach were able to develop this approach. (EV)

This paper outlines recommended test-taking strategies for the self-sufficient learner based on research in cognitive psychology. The theoretical model used is the information-processing approach involving the three essential steps of paying attention, encoding, and framing associative linkages for the new material. Preparing for examinations is…

David Kolb's experiential learning theory involves a framework useful in designing courses that meet needs of diverse learners. Course designs providing systematic activities in concrete experience, reflective observations, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation will be sensitive to students' learning styles while challenging…

A survey of Black students at Georgia State University found that first-year students tended to rate themselves as rigid thinkers and the second-year students did not, suggesting that students perceiving themselves as poor thinkers can become flexible thinkers with appropriate advising, counseling, and teaching activities. (MSE)

Presents the reconstruction of conversations and e-mail correspondences with Dr. Marcia Baxter Magolda regarding students'"ways of knowing." Dr. Baxter Magolda reveals various ways in which students beginning college learn, offers examples of effective teaching, and exemplifies principles for promoting learning. (VWC)

Self-evaluation is a learning strategy that can help college students, particularly nontraditional students, build coherence through their educational experiences. Faculty need to approach students' reflective, self-evaluative writing as learners, listening to what students say and using it as a guide to aid student development. (MSE)

Theories of cognitive, racial identity, affective, psychological, and moral development can be helpful in designing college student leadership training programs. Course design must take a variety of learning styles into consideration so as many students as possible can successfully understand the material and integrate it into their leadership…

Epistemological development is one of the expected outcomes of higher education. A longitudinal study of the epistemological development of 77 students upon entrance into college and again at the beginning of their sophomore year revealed that both males and females increased their intellectual complexity. Interviews were conducted during the…

Compares the self-reported study behaviors of developmental students to those of regular admission students. The virtually identical self-reported study skills between the groups may be an artifact of using a Likert study skill measure. Discusses the rationale and evidence from other studies that substantiate the threat to validity posed by using…

This paper discusses portfolios as an evaluative process in teacher education, noting that although there has been significant curriculum change over the years, yet little change has occurred in student evaluation methods. For schools to demonstrate improvement, new and creative evaluation measures are needed. Portfolios provide a chance to create…