Many U.S. institutions of higher education are initiating and expanding the use of the Internet for collecting and reporting student ratings of instruction. The primary objective of this study was to better understand the effects of the Internet on student ratings of instruction in higher education. More specifically, data were collected to…

The purpose of this study was to examine existing data to determine if a significant difference existed between student evaluations from an online asynchronous and an online synchronous learning environment, as well as their impact on retaining students. The data available were from a national online university that serves students across the…

Augustana (located in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, and formerly known as Augustana University College) is an undergraduate liberal arts and sciences faculty of the University of Alberta with an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students. The fall of 2001 marked the inception of for-credit discipline-specific information literacy (IL) course offerings…

The authors examine an institutional assessment model for general education that effectively incorporates instructor-driven strategies. This article is informed by the perspectives of a teaching librarian and a departmental faculty member at the University at Albany, State University of New York. As instructors, they both participated in mandated…

Sociology invites transformations among first year students which go through at least three distinct levels. At the conceptual level, three basic concepts, debunking, relativizing and system-relating, challenge public opinion modes of thinking. But students in this course go beyond explicit course examples and perform these notions in a more…

We describe the development and evolution of an interdisciplinary introductory course in psychology and sociology. Such a course benefits students by encouraging a wider view of the social sciences and interdisciplinary critical thinking. The challenges of a combined course include reduced content for each discipline, the selection of appropriate…

This study was designed to solicit responses from senior citizens (adults over the age of 55) who had enrolled in a computer course after retirement. The information is intended to aid program planners for seniors in developing future courses. Seventy-six seniors from four local sites (Puget Sound, Washington) and two nationwide online services…

A procedure for soliciting student evaluation feedback which is useful for improving college instruction is described. In four psychology courses, an end-of-course evaluation survey asked for community college students' opinions on five open-ended questions (N=1 instructor, 19 classes, 298 students). Responses were classified into 17 categories,…

In 1992, the state of Iowa received the first of three grants to implement courses using the Iowa Communications Network (ICN), a fiber optic network that delivers live, full-motion instruction allowing two-way interaction between students and instructors. To evaluate the effectiveness of the ICN courses, surveys were distributed to 326 students…

A databased approach to vocational course assessment enables users to rank the quality of vocational education courses. Courses ranked highest may be commended. Courses ranked lowest may be considered in need of improvement efforts. The Databased Course Assessment Method (DCAM) was developed in the public domain and customized to the needs of the…

The global education movement suggests that exposing students to information about different cultures reduces their provincial attitudes and facilitates world-mindedness. To test this possibility, 184 freshmen at the City College of the City University of New York, some enrolled in a World Civilization course and some not, answered a questionnaire…

Describes seven years later the origin, development, frustrations, and accomplishments of an experimental course, The American Dream and Social Change, offered to upper division students (over 300 in all) at California State University at Hayward in 1967-68. Techniques included discussions, action programs, group presentations, and diverse…

In developing two course/instructor evaluation instruments, four areas were considered by the appointed committee: determining the criteria to be evaluated, designing the forms, writing implementation instructions, and assessing faculty participation in the use of forms. The resulting instruments are presented. (BP)

The authors suggest that a new method of course evaluations be used in which students are asked to rate themselves on how well they achieved stated course objectives. In this way the instructor would know where work was needed. This method focuses upon the student's mastery of the subject. (Author)

Describes the application of the Keller Plan to an introductory physics course. Presents the organization of the course, faculty and student reaction to the course, and an assessment of the course on the basis of student grade distribution. (GS)