The emergence of massive open online courses not only changes the ecology of higher education, but also facilitates a blending learning paradigm, also known as small private online courses (SPOCs). In order to understand how college students interact with an SPOC platform, this study collects their online behaviors for a semester and adopts a lag…

In the era of media convergence, transmedia (cross-media/cross-platform/multi-platform) narratives are catering to users who are willing to immerse themselves in their favorite entertainment content. The inherent interactivity of the Internet and the emotional engagement of story can lead to innovative pedagogies in media rich environments. This…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on teachers' use of systematic observation records of social behavior to aid in assessing students' special needs and in evaluating the effects of specific programs. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on management of the mainstreamed classroom. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of Practice for Teachers: The Challenge of Public Law 94-142 to Teacher Education." These clusters form the proposed core of…

This learning package is a three-semester-hour, independent-study course in social psychology designed for postsecondary, external degree students. Keyed to the commercially published textbook "Social Psychology: Explorations in Understanding" (Del Mar, CA: CRM, 1974), the package consists of an administrator manual, a student manual, and a…

This self-instructional module shows how to break down a goal into its directly observable component parts. Once this is done, the parts can be used as evaluative criteria for measuring accomplishment of the goal. The procedure used in this study is a specific application of a general method developed at the University of Massachusetts, called…

The student text explains stress factors and aids in the development of a personalized stress management program for rural special educators. The text is designed to help teachers analyze personal characteristics that relate to stress producing situations, reasons contributing to those personal characteristics, personal and professional effects of…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on understanding the process of communication in the classroom, the teacher's role in the process, and implications for instruction. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of Practice for Teachers: The Challenge of…

The Personalized System of Instruction, known as the Keller Plan, is compared with the mastery learning approach. Learning concepts of both are discussed, as well as differences, difficulties, and effectiveness of each method. (SA)

The College of Education and Human Services Professions at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, has undertaken to develop several videodisc programs to be incorporated into the undergraduate core curriculum and inservice education for teachers and human service professionals. "Understanding Groups," which is the initial curriculum disc…

This learning module, one of a series of 127 performance-based teacher education (PBTE) learning packages focusing upon specific professional competencies of vocational teachers, deals with using reinforcement techniques. Various aspects of the technique of reinforcement and its use are discussed, including positive reinforcement, negative…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on counseling skills for classroom teachers. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of Practice for Teachers: The Challenge of Public Law 94-142 to Teacher Education." These clusters form the proposed core of…

An overview is presented of a 3-year project focused on the development and demonstration of an interactive teaching improvement model that was research-based and used electronic technology. Though the primary goal was to improve the preparation of preservice teachers in elementary and secondary education, it was hoped the materials could be used…

This module (part of a series of 24 modules) is on the impact of interaction among students in a learning situation on achievement, cognitive development, and social development. The genesis of these materials is in the 10 "clusters of capabilities," outlined in the paper, "A Common Body of Practice for Teachers: The Challenge of…

Developed as part of a dissertation on a career education competency-based instructional model, the eight learning packages included in this guide are a result of three terms of field-testing principles and practices of career education in a teacher education program. They are designed to enrich an already established teacher education program.…