Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to enhance the educational experience and retention of college students, especially those from underrepresented populations. However, many challenges still exist relative to building community among students navigating large institutions. We developed a novel course called "Entering…

Describes an elective course, Mass Media and Propaganda, in which students investigate advertising claims. (MB)

Describes objectives, content, and teaching procedures of an introductory college-level urban geography course. Lectures, student papers, and role playing are designed to help students learn about central place theory, space economy, land use, and social geography. (Author/AV)

Students in Economics 519 at Purdue University have been guided to seeing economics in things--in their experiences, in their readings, and in their conversations--and to apply economic analysis appropriately in considering them. This course outline illustrates one technique employed which reaches the objectives of effective economics education,…

Describes recommended and tested strategies for teaching a first-level course on the demography of aging. Provides illustrations of the range of perspectives used to teach the subject in the context of the sociology of aging. Recommends using primary sources and includes a list of resource materials. Includes examples of student projects. (NL)

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…

Describes techniques for clarifying goals, improving organization, and evaluating students in research courses that are typically unstructured. Includes methods for assisting students in designing experiments, creating evaluation tools, and monitoring student progress throughout the course. These simple methods are appropriate for courses with an…

Outlines a laboratory group program for engaging large numbers of undergraduate psychology students in faculty research at small liberal arts colleges with limited research resources. Participating in the group enhances the students' interest in and understanding of research and improves their chances of being accepted into a graduate program.…

Presents an interview with Phil Nyden, a professor at Loyola University (Illinois). Describes his qualitative methods course. Includes his suggestion of a group project rather than individual research projects enabling students to focus on methodology rather than substantive issues. Lists course objectives: learning qualitative methods, applied…

"American Visions" is a freshman-level survey course offered by the Department of History as part of Butler University's core curriculum. The course is built around three primary contextual considerations: high culture, popular culture, and community culture. The high culture approach is designed to introduce students to major systems of thought…

Describes how college science laboratory activities can be developed by student teams in which original questions are formulated as testable hypotheses and refined into experimental designs on the basis of personal observations. Distinguishes this "minds-on" approach from traditional college science laboratories with respect to students'…