Describes an optional course in "computational physics" offered at the University of Birmingham. Includes an introduction to numerical methods and presents exercises involving fast-Fourier transforms, non-linear least-squares, Monte Carlo methods, and the three-body problem. Recommends adding laboratory work into the course in the…

This syllabus describes a college course developed to address South Asian literature and culture with a focus on India. Suggestions for student readings and discussion, oral communication, listening, writing, and field trips are included. The empires of South Asia, its religions, social stratification, parallels of history and religion with the…

Participant observation of an innovative art teacher's classroom technique suggested that, despite his popularity with students, this teacher did not fully engage his students' attention. His attempt at using cognitive dissonance to bring about attitudinal change in the classroom left many students baffled despite the effort expended to involve…

A college-level course in business Italian was designed to incorporate not only language and business communication skills but also perspective on Italian culture. The curriculum includes study of research, literature, economic trends, and popular culture that reflect the broad and varied role of Italian culture in the modern world. (MSE)

A step-by-step guide to designing interdisciplinary courses is presented. Underlying theoretical rationales and expected educational outcomes are explored, and concrete suggestions and examples are offered. Steps include assembling an interdisciplinary team, selecting a topic, identifying disciplines for inclusion, developing the issues underlying…

This paper presents a French-as-a-Second-Language writing course for non-Francophone students at an advanced university level. Because this approach to teaching writing focuses on the writer (and on the reader's expectations), as well as on textuality, the organization (i.e., the architecture) of this course is as complex as writing. (32…

Describes and evaluates the format and grading procedure of an Environmental Agronomy course offered at Colorado State University. Teaching methods include videotape use, field trips, and lectures addressing topics such as integrated pest management, land application of sewage sludge, pesticide degradation, and organic farming. Standard course…

The design and evaluation of an optometry practice management course at Hong Kong Polytechnic are described. The course includes lectures and small group projects on specific ethics and management topics. A survey of participants found they preferred group projects, with elements of peer teaching and seminar approaches, to traditional lectures.…

Use of the case study method to develop nursing students' skills in clinical decision making is discussed. The topic-development approach used in the course design included selection of appropriate cases, use of guidelines for analysis of cases, and development of interrelated formats for teaching. Students and lecturers reported satisfaction with…

Argues that the bulk of most undergraduate psychology curriculum is geared towards preparing students for graduate study. Proposes several specific curriculum changes designed to give the general undergraduate a working and useful knowledge of some of the fundamental concepts concerning psychology. Includes course outlines and structured…

The goal of the East Asian Curriculum Project (EACP) of Columbia University is to support education on Asia at the secondary and elementary levels. The project has developed a variety of curriculum resources and collaborated with state and local educators in designing units about Asia for teachers. Each packet contains brief resource lists along…

A practicum project developed the core curriculum and core curriculum guide for an American literature survey course. Students enrolled in the course came from low socioeconomic backgrounds, exhibited problematic behavior, and evidenced poor study habits, as well as low reading comprehension skills and substandard language usage. Under these…

Designed to help classroom teachers implement the "Alabama Course of Study: Language Arts," this curriculum guide for grades 7-8 is in three major sections. The first section is a table of contents that lists desired student outcomes under each of the four major strands mandated by the course of study (listening, speaking,…

Provided are 23 course syllabi representing a broad range of courses taught in the fields of history of technology and technological studies. The collection falls into two major categories. The first section outlines courses dealing primarily with the history of technology, including courses dealing with the history of technology in a Western or…

An examination of foreign language syllabus design reviews current literature on six syllabus types and discusses the process of choosing and integrating syllabi for classroom use. The six syllabus types are structural, notional-functional, situational, skill-based, task-based, and content-based, characterized as differing by increasing attention…