We describe a first-semester, integrated, introductory biology and chemistry course for undergraduates at Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA, USA. Our vision was to create a supportive learning community in which students could comfortably make connections between scientific disciplines as they learned necessary content for subsequent courses,…

The statistical preparation of in-service teachers, particularly middle school teachers, has been an area of concern for several years. This paper discusses the creation and delivery of an introductory statistics course as part of a master's degree program for in-service mathematics teachers. The initial course development took place before the…

This paper calls for the standardization of the speech communication basic course at large universities where many sections are taught a semester by graduate students and adjunct faculty. The paper discusses the faculty vision for a standardized basic communication course and suggests that standardization is one of the ways that communication…

Finds in a national survey that introductory business communication courses in different departments differ in many aspects, yet are similar in topics covered, sequence of topics, and amount of time necessary to assure a minimum level of competence. (SR)

This volume of an annual collection of essays relating to instruction in the basic communication course is presented in five sections: (1) Six Approaches to the Introductory Course: A Forum; (2) 1990 Basic Course Committee Award Winning Papers; (3) Instruction in the Introductory Communication Course; (4) Research on the Introductory Communication…

Surveys entry-level psychology majors and non-majors before and after taking an introductory psychology course to determine their interest in topics covered in the course. Shows that students are interested in topics relating to their immediate individual needs. Discusses implications for course content and organization. (Author/LS)

Examines the issue of what the content and organization of an introductory political science course should be from the point of view of student expectations. Canadian students expect a more evaluative and behavioral and less institutional course than they are offered. Recommendations for changes in introductory courses are suggested. (RM)

Seventy undergraduate class sections were examined from the database of Astronomy Diagnostic Test (ADT) results of Deming and Hufnagel to determine if course format correlated with ADT normalized gain scores. Normalized gains were calculated for four different classroom scenarios: lecture, lecture with discussion, lecture with lab, and lecture…

Steps to improving introductory courses to keep the appropriate liberal education emphasis include: teach less, restructure testing, relate course content to problems in the outside world, pursue ethical issues, balance facts with other forms of knowledge, teach the arts of discussion and critical thinking, and help students develop wisdom. (MSE)

Civil procedure courses are ideal for connecting doctrine and ethics because procedural rules strain constantly to balance competing interests. A University of Iowa course includes at least one significant moral discussion during each general doctrinal unit. (MSE)

This book contains portions of six model higher education introductory history courses designed and presented by experienced classroom instructors to the 1980 conference of the American Historical Association (AHA). After the presentations, the models were reviewed and critiqued. The models presented were: (1) "Toward Two-Sex History: A Model…

Presents a list of topics, reading assignments, and an outline for a survey course on reading and literacy. (RL)

The University of Missouri-Columbia Law School has implemented a first-year course in dispute resolution integrating topics in torts, property, civil procedure, contracts, and criminal law and taught by teachers in all of those areas. (MSE)

A University of Idaho introductory course in political science describes basic concepts, institutions, and processes of politics and relate their importance to students' daily lives. The course is comparative in organization and structured to promote critical and analytical thinking about politics. (MSE)

Demonstrates that popular music's potential as a tool for teaching interactive introductory sociology courses is enhanced when a cultural analysis of a specific music genre is incorporated into the classroom. Presents a two-part model for integrating a cultural analysis of heavy metal music and its subculture into the introductory course. Includes…