Presents an approach to task-based second-language instruction that relies on class discussion as the departure point. After proposing that communication be viewed as the expression, interpretation, and negotiation of meaning, classroom practices are developed that reflect all three dimensions. Four discussion questions are transformed into…

Discusses engaging preservice teacher education in distance education activities so they could discover and construct meaning. Presents the concept of constructivism and instructional design guidelines. Describes the telecommunications course and learner objectives, including course design, distance learning projects, and learners' frustrations…

Discusses options for approaching a literary text with A-level students. The author states that the appropriate method exists in the OUDLE syllabus, which grants the teacher freedom to decide what to emphasize, permitting students to participate actively in the class, expressing themselves in the target language on such issues as drugs,…

Discusses an experimental project with a prelim group of students of Russian undertaken in order to incorporate various skills into the teaching environment. These skills include keyboard competence, time management, group interaction, and personal presentation. The project was a success; all participants improved in their Russian. (five…

Presents the results of a survey investigating foreign language needs in the legal profession. Questions in the survey focused on the foreign languages most relevant to the profession, entrance requirements regarding the level of knowledge of the foreign language, training requirements in the foreign language, and potential uses of the target…

Describes a national study of extended orientation courses. Finds them equally common at two- and four-year colleges but different in administrative structures and content emphases. Two-year college courses have larger class sizes, shorter durations, and less varied content and are less likely to be required or to introduce an academic discipline.…

Outlines a year-long high school writing course in which students learn to write using a variety of styles and modes for different purposes and audiences and learn to analyze classic and contemporary U.S. writers. Notes that the course includes practice in journalistic writing forms as well as a unit in publication design. (SR)

Describes and compares freshman/sophomore level courses offered collaboratively by a professor and a librarian at the University of Colorado, Boulder: "The Human Encounter with Alcohol" and "Bioethics." Considers course rationale, topics, and assignments; methods used to integrate subject matter with bibliographic research strategies; and…

Discussion of media education focuses on a study conducted in Western Australian schools that assessed the level of understanding of the media among 15 year olds who had studied a formal media education syllabus. Highlights include gender differences, language differences, and correlation between television viewing hours and academic performance.…

Provides an hour-by-hour description of one first-grade teacher's schedule for the first day of school, emphasizing the need to help the students develop (1) a sense of community; (2) the desire to write; (3) an appreciation for the arts, math, and science; (4) an understanding of other peoples and cultures; and (5) the desire to become readers.…

Describes the use of microcomputer-based software in an introductory statistics course at Vanderbilt University. The use of Wingz spreadsheet and Data Desk statistics software is described, objectives for the course are explained, possible objections to computer-assisted instruction for statistics are addressed, and student reactions are reported.…

Describes the development and organization of the Colt (Communicative Orientation of Language Teaching) observation scheme and Lyster and Ranta's (1997) error treatment model, instruments including predetermined categories to describe features of instructional input and interaction in second language classrooms. Concludes that the choice of…

Notes the types of issues and questions that challenged faculty designing a course in feminist research methodology. Outlines the principles underlying the selection and organization of teaching methods and course content; describes weekly class assignments; explains methods of assessing student progress; and provides a copy of the course…

Describes a course entitled "Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology" that is a two-credit seminar developed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate study in psychology. Requires students to actually create application materials. Contends that the course provides students with a structured approach to learning about the graduate…

Describes how the authors use a broad-based, client-centered model to teach an introductory course in public relations, integrating writing assignments for "clients" into course topics, which include history, ethics, theory, research, program planning, publicity, crisis management, and evaluation methods. Discusses course objectives, and notes…