Describes a project in which engineering students wrote science books for children as part of a technical writing course focusing on how writers adapt to the audience. Discusses children's positive reactions to the books, and notes the engineering students' enthusiasm for the project. (MM)

Describes two cross-cultural composition courses offered at Valencia Community College using international readers and foreign films to help students gain insight on non-American cultures while learning about their own culture. Offers examples of reading and film worksheets, and discusses textbooks and assignments (e.g., student journals and…

A two-year research effort assessed the effectiveness of the workshop approach to undergraduate and graduate student projects. The approach involved student reflective journals, individual student-professor conferences, structured small group discussions of project progress with peers, and presentations of final projects. The workshop approach was…

A survey of 200 rural middle and high school teachers in 4 midwestern states revealed that frequency of written assignments was low across all subject areas; that collective pieces (paragraphs, essays/editorials, reaction papers) were used most often; that, except for English teachers, few teachers employed journal writing; and that student…

Describes a college-level, senior-year capstone course about the profession of college teaching. Asserts that the primary goal was to attract better students to the teaching profession. Discusses the 14 major topics that comprise the course outline. (CFR)

Describes an approach to introductory geology that requires students to go into the field to make observations, collect and analyze data, synthesize those data, and hypothesize about inferred geologic relationships. The product of these laboratories is a paper that requires students to test their hypothesis using specific examples from the data.…

Author describes an individual research project involving digital modeling of graded river profiles as part of a sophomore-level geomorphology class. The three-week project gives students the opportunity to choose research topics, design experiments to test ideas, interpret results, and write a research report. (PR)

A course in adult education techniques used game design and playing as an instructional method. A follow-up survey found the 11 participants valued the experience, had some difficulty with the group aspect of game development, were stimulated in different ways, felt grading criteria were appropriate, and would use the technique themselves. (MSE)

Discusses three types of journals: (1) writer's journals, which encourage recording of events for later literary work; (2) learning logs, which encourage interaction with curriculum content; and (3) diaries, which allow free flow of emotions and ideas. For each type, student samples and teacher comments are provided. (BC)

Suggests a teaching unit for U.S. history in which students research topics and write pulp magazine short stories. Provides detailed teaching model, including background information on pulp magazines, and classroom procedures for a four-week activity. Offers guidelines for plot outlines, format design, and evaluation criteria. (NL)

Notes that teachers can make writing assignments more acceptable by using innovative techniques. Suggests that using letter writing for research projects is a good motivational technique. Asks students to assume roles of persons of a specific historical period and write from the first-person perspective. Includes sample letter. (NL)

Describes the development and use of the Traveling Tales backpack for engaging children and parents in home writing activities. Shares the experiences of one child and how his family became involved in helping him write a book. (MG)

Contends that, although computers are used frequently in undergraduate experimental design and statistics courses, they also can be used in courses with different instructional objectives. Describes a course designed to teach the roles of professional psychologists through the use of computers. (CFR)

Describes having students write lab reports that concentrate more on writing and independent thought. Students take the role of scientists writing about their findings for publication. The teacher acts as a journal editor, reading the reports and either accepting them for publication or suggesting ways for improvement. (PR)

Examines barriers to student participation in online conferences, including psychological/social forces and software limitations. Proposes the following ways to encourage student input: require participation; form learning teams; make activities interesting; don't settle just for opinions; structure activities; require hand-in assignments; know…