This article discusses principles involved in developing course materials for technology-mediated Chinese language learning, with examples from a new course designed to take into account the needs of distance and independent learners. Which learning environment is most efficient for a given learning activity needs to be carefully considered. It…

Concerns about a lack of face-to-face contact with students, a focus on grading rather than teaching, and limited expertise with technology or needed pedagogical strategies, may contribute to instructor reluctance to teach online. The interaction between the instructor and learner and among learners affects the quality and success of online…

This formative evaluation within a graduate initial teacher education program sought to identify student teachers' perceptions of lecturer practice and its influence on their developing practice. Data collected from course and teaching evaluations and focus group interviews suggested that microstructural course elements--lectures, tutorials, and…

An autoinstructional approach to teaching state and local government is described. The course consists of 40 instructional packages that include specific objectives as a learning guide for students. (RN)

Possible ways of developing skills required for effective teaching of independent study and small group instruction are considered. A short series of faculty development courses is reported, and seven main issues in skill development are listed, including structuring and evaluating independent work and integrating other teaching methods. (MSE)

Discussions concluded that now is the time to develop criteria for measuring professional quality of practicing physicians and to improve learning processes in medical schools. (Editor/IR)

Distance learners are self-directed learners traditionally taught via study books, collections of readings, and exercises to test understanding of learning packages. Despite advances in e-Learning environments and computer-based teaching interfaces, distance learners still lack opportunities to participate in exercises and debates available to…

This guide was developed to help preservice or inservice vocational teachers to understand the general nature and use of the National Center for Research in Vocational Education's performance-based teacher education (PBTE) materials. (The PBTE materials are a series of modularized learning packages focusing upon the specific professional…

THIS STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A COURSE IN OCEANOGRAPHY AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WERE (1) TO ORGANIZE, EXAMINE, AND REVISE EXISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS SUITABLE FOR USE IN AN INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE IN OCEANOGRAPHY, (2) TO DEVELOP NEW INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EXPERIENCES, (3) TO…

A course combining aspects of traditional and self-instruction is described. Students' positive reactions exceeded expectation, and students favored the relaxed pace, practice exercises, and immediate instructor feedback. A disadvantage was faculty time required to provide feedback. (MSE)

This booklet outlines specific strategies to help teachers prepare an effective self-study course for students enrolled in nontraditional study. The guide is organized in four chapters that cover the following topics: (1) consideration of students and their motivation; (2) preparation of an effective course (conceptualization--goals, expectations,…

This module is one of a series of 127 performance-based teacher education (PBTE) learning packages focusing upon specific professional competencies of vocational teachers. The competencies upon which these modules are based were identified and verified through research as being important to successful vocational teaching at both the secondary and…

A survey of 114 U.S. and Canadian medical schools gathered information about the content, organization, and teaching methods of microanatomy courses. Results suggest the courses are relatively conventional, with development of computer-assisted instruction being impeded by availability of other, less-expensive self-instructional tools.…