Sociologists and instructors who teach about community service share an affinity for understanding and addressing social problems. While many studies have demonstrated the benefits of incorporating community service into sociology courses, we examine the benefits of incorporating sociological content into community service classes. The authors…

An innovative course structure which combines a traditional sociology course with a special topic minicourse is described. Possible options for using the structure are discussed. (Author/DE)

Pros and cons of teaching large classes are discussed. Five innovative teaching efforts are reviewed as alternatives: lecture-tutorial system, modular teaching approach, self-paced instructional program, diversified learning approach, and teaching information processing system. (ND)

Explores new ways of stimulating critical thinking in teaching basic sociology courses and finds the use of paradoxes and dilemmas an effective teaching tool, as they reflect the dialectical nature of sociological analysis. Gives examples of paradoxes and dilemmas, and discusses basic strategies in recognizing and resolving dilemmas. (NL)

Six student projects which focus attention on the activities and processes through which conditions come to be defined as social problems are described. They demonstrate the relevance of the student's own values and life experiences in understanding social problems. (Author/DE)

The course described in the paper is organized around a set of modules, each containing lectures, readings, a simulation game, films, and a research exercise. (Author/ND)

The claim that sociology teaches students how to think more critically and scientifically about social issues was tested on college-level students in a sociology department. Results indicated neither the inclination nor the ability increased in the students having sociological training. (ND)

Examines the hypotheses that students need to improve communication skills and that an innovative pedagogy is more effective than traditional methods for improving communication skills. Describes the teaching pedagogy and its implementation in an introductory sociology course. Results suggest that this pedagogy is more effective than conventional…

Introduces an innovative approach to teaching a sociology of education course. Suggests the various approaches to sociology have distracted professionals from its central relevance. Critiques present orientations to a sociology of education course and recommends placing emphasis on the logic or theoretical/conceptual framework for organizing key…

Students who participate in simplified research projects, as compared with students who take tests, display more awareness of sociology's methods of inquiry and purposes of research. (Author/DE)

The Teaching Information Processing System (TIPS) uses computer monitoring of student progress to individualized instruction in large lecture classes. (DE)

Discusses typical first days of college courses. Describes a first day activity called "Who is the Professor?" that challenges students' expectations about learning and motivates students to wonder about social life. Presents a modification of the activity and considers suggestions, limitations, and challenges. (CMK)

Evaluation of innovative teaching of introductory sociology using selections from 15 novels and one play as supplementary reading material. (Author/ND)

Four teaching devices designed to demonstrate the social process of labeling mental illness were used in different teaching settings. (Author/ND)

Provides 11 teaching guidelines for presentation of sociological material to medical students and addresses the problems of dense scheduling and competition for time in a medical school curriculum. Considers career implications for sociologists in this setting as well as resources available. (NL)