Offers a broad rationale for using feature films in teaching along with practical points on their use. Discusses active learning and critical thinking, film's ability to reflect psychological reality and the broader socio-historical context, feature films in other disciplines, connected learning and student diversity, and applications in an urban…

Describes an interdisciplinary course on economics and religion offered at a medium-sized state university. Explains that the class was mostly a disaster and analyzes reasons for its failure. Concludes that significant blame lies with general attitudes entrenched in economics, including a disregard for reality as opposed to methods and theories,…

Summarizes research related to humor in testing and presents new evidence on the effectiveness of humor in constructed-response items. Findings from a survey at Johns Hopkins University's School of Nursing indicated that students feel that humor makes a difference in their test performance. Describes specific strategies for using humor in tests.…

Describes how one professor of American government fights the apathy and cynicism of college students toward politics by using the Internet to help students more fairly appraise the workings of the American political system. One assignment has students research and manage a particular public policy initiative through visits to Web sites…

Review of a curriculum of linked courses for high-risk freshmen students at the University of Wisconsin finds a learning community approach to interdisciplinary case studies can challenge student assumptions and develop students' higher level thinking skills. A sample case study, related discussion questions, and a related role playing exercise…

Discusses the problem-based learning (PBL) model, including underlying principles and the three phases of the cyclical process: (1) problem development; (2) initiation of PBL events, inquiry, and investigation; and (3) problem solution. A case study illustrates use of PBL in an educational psychology class. A table lists sample problems for…

Describes how one professor makes his physics course relevant to pharmacy majors. The course emphasizes the relation of basic physics concepts (like forces and thermodynamics) to the human body and uses problems drawn from the medical profession. Student course evaluations show a favorable view of content learned and its relevance. (DB)

Suggests the use of the "tribal" metaphor to foster team building and collaborative learning in college classes. Offers examples of how linking students in the classroom in tribes builds identification and interdependence through such activities as creating a group myth and participating in membership rituals. The tribal metaphor has also led to…

Describes an alternative approach to introductory economics based on a cooperative learning model, "Learning Together." Discussion of issues in economics education and cooperative learning in higher education leads to explanation of how to adapt the Learning Together Model to lesson planning in economics. A flow chart illustrates the process for a…

Describes the authors' experience team teaching a graduate school clinical research course for students concentrating in secondary teaching. Examines the team planning process, actual team teaching, and team grading and evaluation. Most students responded positively to the approach. Each instructor also wrote a reflective piece on the experience.…

Questionnaires were completed by 50 college faculty who each evaluated a course they had taught which emphasized technology and another course taught more traditionally. Several correlations were found among presence or absence of technology, instructors' teaching styles, and instructors' perception of average student learning style. (DB)

Describes "assigned conversations," a technique for inducing focused study of reading assignments outside of class by using them to structure cooperative learning in class. Individual students take responsibility for leading a class conversation about a portion of text. Application with both large and small classes indicated the method increases…

Recommends that teachers wishing to develop the problem-solving expertise of students make concentrated and sustained efforts to develop students' knowledge base, skill base, resource base, strategy-experience base, and behavioral base. Application in a General Physics course resulted in improved problem solving performance which is partially…

Case studies provide a positive and engaging experience for students, but if not chosen carefully, they may not necessarily promote concept learning. The case study method of instruction in undergraduate science courses is a constructivist pedagogy that can address some of the problems currently facing higher education. The case method often…

The National Inquiry Standard for Science Education Preparation requires science teachers to introduce students to scientific inquiry to solve problems by various methods, including active learning in a collaborative environment. In order for science teachers to comply with this inquiry standard, activities must be designed for students to…