The portfolio writing assignment given to students in a life span developmental psychology course required that they complete 10-15 typewritten pages of writing for the course. Students were allowed to choose their own projects; for example, they might write about an interview they had conducted, or discuss an outside reading. (RM)

Weekly projects designed for an introductory psychology telecourse encourage student involvement in psychology. Each project consists of a set of instructions for a psychological study using family, friends, and other telecourse students as subjects, discussion partners, or coresearchers. All collaboration is done over the telephone. Examples of…

Eighth-grade students were asked to produce two faces as a sculptural self-portrait series. The faces were to show a change in mood through modifications of expression. After construction, the facial shells were to be painted with a design which would both enhance and unite the expressions. (RM)

The Institute for Chemical Education (located on the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus) is offering revised and new courses for chemistry teachers and an expanded "chemistry camp" for middle school students. Teachers' courses will focus on: chemistry demonstrations; descriptive chemistry; chemistry activities; chemical instrumentation; and…

The ballad is a primary medium for the reliving of historic events. Described is a joint music and social studies project in which junior high school students research historic events and write song lyrics. A composer gives a lesson on lyric writing, verse forms, and rhyme schemes. (RM)

Examines the initial training of the foreign language teachers in Great Britain and outlines a course for certification in foreign language teaching in the light of changes in the educational service, society at large, and government policy following the establishment in 1984 of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. (Author/SED)

If science can be taught in a way that makes it accessible to the nonmajor, student fear of science would decrease. The topic of memory allows for an interdisciplinary analysis because films can be selected to complement the science. A course at Brooklyn College is described. (MLW)

Analyzes a teacher training course taught for two subsequent years in Italy in which students investigate how computers can be used as tools to improve the learning process. The course topics examined, working method adopted, and results obtained are discussed, and suggestions are made for training present and future teachers. (Author/MBR)

Describes a second year, high school biology course in which students learn how to do independent investigations. Focuses on the research methodology used by the students (including Campbell and Stanley designs) and instructional strategies. (JN)

An experiential model of learning used in a graduate level psychology counseling course to help students develop group leadership skills is described. Students view a videotape depicting scenes that require an intervention. The scenes describe events leading to a choice point, and some kind of leader action is required. (RM)

A telecommunications course was used to provide training to nearly 500 pre-/in-service teachers at more than 20 separate locations throughout South Carolina. The course consists of two components: a televised lecture and a hands-on session supervised by a facilitator at each location. Various aspects of the course are described. (JN)

High school students enrolled in a Spanish language class heightened their awareness of the Mexican people by studying and discussing Mexican crafts. Working in the style used by the Mexicans, they designed and made their own art products. (RM)

Describes physics experiments (including speed, acceleration, and acceleration due to gravity) in which students write programs to obtain and manipulate experimental data using the Atari microcomputer game port. The approach emphasizes the essential physics of the experiments while affording students useful experience of automatic data collection.…

A course, designed to illustrate the correlation of the biochemistry and physiology content of the curriculum with clinical applications, is described. The entire presentation, from introduction and interview of the patient to the correlation of the clinical application with the basic sciences, was managed by the students. (Author/MLW)

"Music Video 454," a course surveying the history, business, and aesthetics of the most important force in both music and television, is described. The instructors teach students to analyze videos--aesthetically and sociologically, and hope to enhance their career prospects. (MLW)