Describes an explorative study to investigate the purposes of assessment as seen from the student perspective. Results showed strong correlation in the ranked reasons for assessment across gender and between the two institutions involved. Some significant differences in gender were observed in the top ranked reasons. Discusses possible extensions…

Suggests that for university teachers to be regarded internationally as globally competent teachers, they need to go beyond academic subject knowledge and accredited pedagogic skills by adopting not only a transformatory and democratic approach to education, but also an ethnographic stance to teaching abroad. (Contains 19 references.) (AEF)

Summarizes evidence from two evaluative studies of the initial training course for new teaching staff at Oxford Brookes University, UK. Findings indicate that the course has had a positive effect for most of the participants. Presents evidence of the positive feedback in the form of comments from several participants. Attitude statements used in…

Examines the role of a facilitator in an action research project, and explores the dilemmas it presents. Focuses on development of a competence-based approach to the clinical education and assessment of student radiographers. Concludes that the facilitator must understand the nature of each dilemma and make a judgment regarding how to work with it…

This paper looks at teaching South African women's writing on a "Black and Asian women's writing" module, with some references to other classes in which South African women's writing has been a part. Post-colonial and feminist critical practices are integrated with the learning theories of phenomenography and experiential learning in order to…

Describes the distance learning initiative at the Scarman Center for the Study of Public Order (UK), focusing on two Masters courses. Discusses the course design, course materials, study guides, and complementary reading materials. Describes elements of the student support system: the student handbook, "fax-a-tutor" system, regional seminars, and…

Provides a profile of the use of action learning at the University of Brighton (United Kingdom), identifies reasons for the spread of action learning in a variety of subject disciplines, and discusses implications for the adoption of other innovations in learning and teaching in higher education. (LRW)

Measures the impact of pre-job training programs on subsequent earnings of trainees, particularly engineers employed by high-tech firms in Taiwan. Concludes that public training programs have no impact on earnings but participation in private training programs does have a significantly positive effect on earnings, and compares results with…

Discussion of group work projects in higher education focuses on a comparison of the performance of student groups formed randomly, with those formed using the Honey and Mumford learning styles questionnaire. Describes results that indicate no significant difference in student performances and considers the relationship to the Kolb model.…

Describes the Virtual Company, a learning environment developed by the Open University (Netherlands) that is modeled after real companies to bridge the gap between learning and working by situating learning in a real-life business setting. Discusses problems in higher education, demands of society, and results of a pilot study. (Author/LRW)

Describes the use of SoftArc Intranet FirstClass, a collaborative learning environment that uses computer conferencing, and discusses pros and cons of choosing this system for running online courses from a distance. Presents case studies from Italy and presents viewpoints of students, tutors, designers and administrators. (Author/LRW)

Presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of video conferencing as a teaching and learning medium in early childhood studies, based on experiences at Stranmillis University College (Northern Ireland) with women who are new to higher education and live in a disadvantaged area. Discusses interactivity, tutor responses, and student responses.…

Examines the ways in which IT (information technology) can support and facilitate the learner in the workplace and suggests that work-based learning can correct the failure of academia to respond to the requirements of modern industry. Discusses the concept of work-based learning and the development of lifelong learning capabilities. (Author/LRW)

Describes a benchmarking project developed at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) to compare the design and delivery of the Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education) against national and international institutions. Discusses use of the benchmarking process for quality improvement. (LRW)

Describes the development of the Statement of Relevance (SOR) for facilitating reflective learning. Discusses issues concerned with their use for assessment and outlines advantages of SORs, including the transferability of learning, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning, developing skills of reflection, and raising the value of…