Describes how the Educational Software short course produced by the Open University Micros in Schools project trains inservice teachers to select suitable educational software for classroom use. Findings of a formative evaluation of an activity in the course in which teachers examined three commercially produced educational software packages are…

Offers a letter written to students enrolled in a semiotics of art class outlining the theory of a negotiated curriculum and the reasons for experimenting with it in the course. Interspersed between paragraphs of the letter are personal reflections on the strengths and shortcomings of the process. (HOD)

Reports a study in which the effects of the changeover of a French course in a London comprehensive lower school from a structural to a unit-credit course were observed and evaluated. A pre-test post-test model composed of 10 measures was used to measure the effects of the change. (SED)

A comparison of the actual final grade distribution with what the grade distributions would have been had only the true/false components or the short-answer components been used is presented. The responses to a course evaluation survey that asked students to compare the two types of questions are summarized. (MLW)

The effectiveness of a Sensation and Perception course was improved when the teacher used slides in his presentations. Using slides allows smoother presentation of the material, speeds the pace of the class without confusing students, and provides them with a more positive experience in dealing with a difficult psychology course. (RM)

Nigerian university seniors in a variety of disciplines rated the quality of the institution's education degree program. The most popular education courses are reported, along with differences among arts and science, social science, and physical/health education student ratings. (MSE)

Some scholars have publicly criticized large research universities for failing to provide undergraduate students with the skills and abilities needed to succeed both in life and in the workforce. One strategy, taken at UCLA, is to use its strength as a research institution as the foundation of curricular reform; for example, by bringing research…

The roster of developmental programs available to students in community colleges is expanding, though remedial education itself does remain a marginal aspect of higher education. The programs are usually under-funded, segregated from "regular" offerings, and taught by part-timers. This report suggests that the colleges are sending signals that…

This paper describes an online course on curriculum development and implementation in early childhood education offered to preservice teachers at Philadelphia's Temple University. The paper describes designing the curriculum of the online course, hardware and software requirements, development of an online teaching strategy, implementation, and…

This paper describes an uncommon approach to service learning. The students in a class at California State University Los Angeles are placed with experts of the political advocacy process, not with charitable nonprofits. Making use of a variety of organizations located in the greater Los Angeles region, the course offers students the opportunity…

This paper examines the various uses of video, microcomputer and related media technologies as effective instructional design tools. Highlights include descriptions of: the Telecommunications Department at Indiana University; an evaluation of telecourses through student questionnaires and identification of those students who might have problems…

Here's an example of how an instructional materials center can provide leadership in the development of curriculum materials for occupational home economics. (Editor)

Preservice teachers, asked to evaluate components of a social studies methods course, rated theory as the least important element, behind methods, field experience, and content. Younger, less experienced preservice teachers considered theory more valuable than others did. (PP)

In two studies, selections of evaluation form items were negatively worded and presented before or after overall student ratings. Ratings of courses and instructors were not significantly affected by wording. Differences in the global assessment of the courses are discussed. (Author/CM)