Describes the development of a class at Zayed University (United Arab Emirates) that used laptop computers to make classroom instruction more student-centered. Discusses the design of self-paced materials and reports results that indicated students preferred a traditional teacher-centered lecture course. Considers implications for distance…

Educational psychologists and practicing educators agree that student motivation is a central and often problematic issue for education. Understanding and working with those factors that influence students' ability and willingness to engage with curriculum content and intellectual challenges help teachers increase the likelihood that our students…

This article discusses the transforming effects of tablet PCs in the classroom. As 1-to-1 computing becomes the goal on K-12 campuses, school districts are turning to this newer, pen-based technology. Saint Mary's School's new Lenovo ThinkPad X41 tablet PCs had transformed the way Saint Mary's teachers did their jobs. Teachers created outlines for…

SI can expand past the boundaries of on-campus review sessions. This chapter examines how SI can be implemented in university teaching-learning centers, thematically based learning communities, and online and video-based programs and offers a case study of one such online program.

Science and engineering students' involvement in practical work contributes to the development of their understanding of the concepts and processes of science. The Practical Experimentation by Accessible Remote Learning (PEARL) project aimed to develop a system to enable students to conduct real-world experiments at a distance using a computer. We…

This study explored the views of initial teacher trainees on various components of their training in the use of new technology to teach their subject. The research focused on trainees' reflections on their experiences of trying to "get better" at information and communication technology (ICT) in the course of their training. Data collection…

This paper discusses the impact of the introduction of a virtual learning environment (VLE) on teaching practices within a new university in the UK, and explores the factors that have encouraged or, conversely, discouraged, the adoption of the VLE by teaching staff, from the latter's perspective. It is based on findings from the analysis of…

This article describes the Gironacel[R] project--a virtual learning environment produced by the University of Girona. The purpose of this tool is to make it easier for students studying quality management courses within engineering schools to understand what the "quality culture" is and how to implement the ISO 9001:2000 standard in a…

The term "design" is being understood more and more as a methodological process, together with its acceptance as the result of such a process. As a process, it is a stage in the courseware engineering life cycle which primarily focuses on rendering the development process more effective and on enhancing the qualities of the finished system,…

The gradual, ongoing transformation of a large general education astronomy class is presented. Emphasis is on student reaction to and academic impact of changes in the teaching/learning environment introduced over a five-year period. In-class, cooperative, and small group exercises are discussed, along with web-based materials and Just-in-Time…

Use of the case study method requires students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information in the context of a real educational situation, representing the highest levels of learning in Bloom's Taxonomy (Bloom et al., 1956). The case study method has been used successfully in the doctoral comprehensive examination process to link theory to…

Rote teaching and learning have their place, but not in a music course and an art and design course in which two dozen students at Queensborough Community College (QCC) enrolled together. In addition to a shift toward increasing cultural relevance in their courses, QCC began to explore a learner-centered pedagogy that would better respond to the…

In this article, the author shares his experience and the challenges he faced in teaching an inclusive American history to Canary Islands students. The author teaches two undergraduate courses related to the U.S., plus a graduate course in American culture and political liberalism. Presently, eleven credits (two semester courses) serve as the…

Historians are living in a challenging era. As products of the age of print, teachers must find effective ways to introduce the study of history, an academic discipline embedded in the conventions and understandings of print media, to students whose facility with the print world is limited. It is electronic media with which they are most familiar.…

Given the hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year on technology initiatives in higher education, questions about the value of these expenditures almost seem moot. However, virtually every CIO at every institution of higher education is asked to report the return on investment (ROI) of technology spending on his or her campus. Making such…