Describes an experimental distance-education course aimed at both health care professionals and other librarians and graduate students, offered as continuing education and graduate education. Three modalities for delivering instruction are explained: satellite broadcast, an Internet-based portion, and an intensive seminar. Course evaluations are…

Critiques the use of a comprehensive National Courses Examination (NCE) administered by the Brazilian Government to appraise the quality of undergraduate courses offered by all higher education institutions in the country. Describes the NCE and considers it as an instrument of institutional evaluation. Examines also the key problems underlying…

The Merit Workshop Calculus Program, based on Treisman-style workshop calculus, was intended to address the problems of low success rates of students from underrepresented populations and the failure to retain these students in mathematics- and science-based majors. Concludes that the program had a positive impact for both genders and several…

After 4 years of debate, the National Collegiate Athletic Association agreed in January 2000 to accept high-school principals' descriptions of their courses, rather than to continue judging courses through the clearinghouse. Persistence, a sense of humor, and sympathetic journalists aided the protest effort. (MLH)

Discusses trends in distance education in higher education, describes the changing profile in the growth of Web-based delivery of courses, and compares two leading software suppliers for Web-based courseware: WebCT and Blackboard CourseInfo. Considers the transition from face-to-face to online instruction, library instruction, and mid-course…

Presents a method for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of online courses and learning modules in higher education and corporate training. Highlights include the growing need for evaluation; models of evaluation; the Pedagogy Effectiveness Index; and a summative rating for online courses that includes content factors, usability, and…

Examines the role of instructor likability/rapport on student perceptions of learning and ratings of overall teaching ability, based on data from 205 course evaluation forms representing student responses in ten upper-level sociology courses. Suggests that students who rate their instructors high in likability also reward that instructor with high…

A study using a 43-item coding schedule examined 127 Web courses. After analyzing interrelationships between the variables and issues pertaining to accessibility, interaction, and attractiveness, a University of Wisconsin history course <http://hum.1ss.wisc.edu/hist102> was awarded a "Madonna" as best dressed, while an Illinois…

Presents results of an empirical study on the changes of students' expectations and perceptions of service quality in teaching. Results show that, whereas students' expectations appear to be relatively stable over the time of the study, their perceptions of service quality change over time and their perceived service quality level decreases as…

Describes the development and implementation of a cross-listed undergraduate and graduate-level child psychology course taught over the Internet. Describes course content and instructional goals. Outlines the opportunities and pitfalls of teaching in a virtual classroom. (CMK)

This article reports on the findings of a formative evaluation of an online competency-based child welfare practice course, paying particular attention to the instructional design principles and features required to promote the learning and enhancement of skill sets for reflective anti-oppressive social work practice. The article begins by…

This article analyses current concerns over grading standards and academic inflation. Attempting to clarify a complex phenomenon, the researchers took advantage of a rare opportunity afforded by one university's policy reducing the number of high grades awarded by its Education department. The issue providing the focus of study was whether…

Collecting feedback from students through course, program and other evaluation questionnaires has become a costly and time consuming process for most colleges. Converting to data collection through the internet, rather than completion on paper, can result in a cheaper and more efficient process. This article examines several research questions…

This study assesses undergraduate knowledge of aging, distinguishing between types of deficits (ignorance vs. misinformation) and content areas as delineated by a biopsychosocial framework. Knowledge is examined as an outcome of taking an aging elective, while accounting for course rating and knowledge retention. A diverse body of UCLA…

Managed care has profound effects on health and mental health service delivery in the United States. This article describes the knowledge that students need for effective social work practice within a managed care environment and evaluates a course to deliver the content. (Contains 3 tables.)