Some aspects of planning second language programs along communicative lines are examined, and a framework for planning communicative classroom activities is described. The problem of determining whether to start planning with methodology and materials or overall curriculum design is discussed at length. A practical solution, a teacher's handbook…

A trend in medical curriculum design toward courses organized around organ systems is described and analyzed through national survey data. The courses are also characterized by a multidisciplinary emphasis, larger credit and contact hours, and the goal of interrelating many concepts of the system for an understanding of the system as a whole. (MSE)

The outline for a reading course based on both intensive and extensive reading of short stories is presented. The 11-week course focuses on five stories, three selected by the teacher and two selected by the students as a class. A course overview details the sequence of reading and classroom activities, and the procedures for a typical four-week…

This paper looks at current definitions of aesthetic education and, in light of present views on learning theory and teaching methodology, suggests means and materials for devising new programs which might realistically meet the needs of modern American students. (Author/SJL)

Suggestions for course design are offered to teachers of deaf students. The recommended approach to course design begins with the consideration of student needs and course goals, and uses these as a framework for determining relevant and attainable objectives that are to be accomplished through various learning activities. (JDD)

This article proposes that law schools teach trial advocacy and appellate advocacy as a two-course sequence, in which a "trial" is conducted in the first semester and appealed in the second. Students would work on teams and gain experience representing either the party with the burden of proof or the responsive party. (MSE)

A well-designed college course syllabus can serve a variety of purposes: as an agreement between teacher and student; as a device for communicating intent, seriousness, and expectations; as an overall plan of action for the course; and as a cognitive map of the course to share with students. This article identifies the major components of a good…

Responds to commentaries about the author's article "Teaching about Validity." Links these commentaries and the original article to suggestions for curriculum design in teaching about qualitative research methods. Discusses the idea of "meaning making" as a possible way to integrate the approaches described in the commentaries and original…

A detailed curriculum outline for the state-mandated elementary school program in French as a second language for Quebec English schools is presented. Primary objectives are the development of affective values, social values, and the sense of sociocultural belonging. The curriculum was adapted from the 1972 curriculum, with more specific overall…

Four sections of introductory psychology were involved in a study of aptitude-treatment interactions. Two sections were taught with a high-structure curriculum, and two with a low-structure curriculum. Students' preference for structure was measured with the Inventory of Beliefs (IOB). During eight weeks of instruction, observers recorded…

RESEARCH ON SEQUENCING OF INSTRUCTION CAN BE DIVIDED INTO NINE TYPES ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS ON WHICH THE EXPERIMENTS VARY. SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE LEARNER CONTROLS THE OBJECTIVES ARE DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE EXPLICITLY BECAUSE OF DIFFERING CONTENT LEARNED. AMONG EXPERIMENTER-CONTROLLED LEARNING SITUATIONS, THE WORK OF GAGNE AND HIS…

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)

A University of Redlands (California) calculus course was redesigned to include computer demonstrations and homework assignments in which the computer could play an important role. Comparison of results of this instruction with that using traditional methods suggest the approach using computers has merit. (MSE)

This is a workbook that assists college faculty to design their own courses. The process is organized in a series of stages each of which is given a chapter: gathering, planning, implementing, teaching and evaluating. The first chapter on gathering describes the process for collecting as much information about the course as possible by describing…