Two sections of an introductory educational psychology course given at the University of Akron were restructured using some nontraditional elements. Student evalutions of the course's content and structure and student achievement measures were used to analyze the effectiveness of the changes. The statistical analyses are detailed. The results are…

This handbook is designed to help educators improve the effectiveness of daily lessons. The need for flexibility and the ability to develop meaningful variety are emphasized. Suggestions and guidelines are provided for writing objectives, planning lessons, and selecting instructional methods. Three major categories of teaching/learning…

This paper develops an instructional design process for teaching a time management course to head nurses and supervisors. (The course was conducted at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, and was based on "A New Instructional Design Development Process for Instructors of Adults," by Mary Jane Even.) The paper…

This is a guide for instructors in community, junior, and four-year colleges who are not trained extensively in the field of linguistics but who are interested in designing an introductory course in language and linguistics. Among the variables that may affect the nature of the course are the students' and the instructor's backgrounds and…

This article attempts an analysis of the problems involved in creating a course in English as a second language for adult beginners. Various learning theories and linguistic theories are discussed, which should be taken into consideration in choosing a teaching method. In addition, care must be taken to distinguish among the four language skills…

This paper describes the Integrated Studies Project, a middle school curriculum project developed at Keele University in England, and designed to integrate the social sciences and the expressive arts. The described materials are available from Oxford University Press. These consist of large fold-out sheets with information, photographs, drawings,…

Since 1971 Edison Junior High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, has developed and used an innovative social science curriculum for junior high students. Process of the Social Scientist (POSS) is a 2-year program for the combined sixth/seventh grade which places primary emphasis on the process used by working social scientists rather than on the…

Designed to offer guidance to educators in creating a local curriculum guide (K-12), the four-part organization of this bulletin directs the curriculum planner "from need to intention, from intention to plans, from plans to paper, and from paper to practice." Among the topics covered are the conditions desirable for creating a curriculum guide;…

Within a setting of dynamic rather than static knowledge, the academic structuring of disciplines begins to lose meaning. Interdisciplinary courses are one result of this perception of knowledge. A polydisciplinary approach, however, would be a more accurate construct of reality. Given the following four aspects of a polydisciplinary approach to…

This study evaluated student preparation for a course in calculus for business, management, and social sciences as a prerequisite for success in probability theory. The study included a review of the literature, development of an assessment instrument and cut-off scores, and review and validation of the study criteria, the assessment instrument,…

Describes how the course of study is a starting point for making the Future Farmers of America (FFA) an integral part of the vocational agriculture program. Example courses of study with related FFA activities are presented for a basic agriculture class and a horticulture class. (LRA)

Reports on a study of the effects of the curriculum material used and of teaching behavior in "Information and Computer Literacy," a new course introduced in the Netherlands. Suggests that education can diminish but not entirely eradicate gender-related ideas about computers. Includes statistical and tabular data. (MJP)

Describes a method of integrating a course syllabus with a field geological inventory of the surrounding area. Consists of three modules, each with a preparatory unit, field trip, and summary unit. Discusses first hand experiences, learning cycles, novelty factors, and moving from the concrete to abstract. (MVL)

The evolution and design of a third-year college course in business Italian are described. Course content includes business correspondence, banking, wholesale and retail transactions. Teaching methods and class activities are also discussed. These include use of realia, small group activities, and letter and report writing. (Author/MSE)

Outlines methods for teaching social psychology in an interdisciplinary one-semester course. Stresses teaching theoretical perspectives, methods, and concepts. Makes suggestions for classroom application, reviews instructional materials, and suggests students participate in an experiment, survey, or observation study as a basis for discussion.…