The assessment of general education is often approached through broad surveys or standardized instruments that fail to capture the learning goals most faculty members desire for this portion of the curriculum. The challenge in remedying this situation lies, first, in defining general education in meaningful ways that can be both articulated and…

We in higher education have allowed the balance of the private and public purposes of liberal education to become skewed in our angst over fully embracing a central role in restoring prosperity and preparing our increasingly diverse population for the evolving responsibility of mending our fraying democracy. As we consider how best to reshape…

The majority of research on general education assessment in recent years has focused primarily on predominately white institutions. Very little is known about general education assessment at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUS). Using descriptive analysis, this exploratory study examines the state of general education assessment at…

The purpose of this article is to present empirical evidence suggesting the potential benefits of systematically utilizing general education as the institutional foundation for an integrated, multidisciplinary learning environment expressly dedicated to the promotion of civic engagement. Recently, the authors conducted an assessment of student…

The authors argue that faculty development is a crucial aspect of curriculum reform in general education. This article describes 10 principles for conducting successful faculty development, including: (1) identifying key people; (2) helping faculty listen to each other; (3) focusing on students; (4) encouraging faculty to accept responsibility for…

Discusses the pedagogy and content of a general education curriculum influenced by postmodern assumptions about society, the academy, and knowledge. Suggests a more flexible curriculum, focusing on the skills needed for adapting to accelerating change as well as for preserving traditions. Asserts that critical thinking and problem-solving skills…

Asserts the need for increased critical-thinking learning outputs via more active student learning inputs. Reviews current literature, describes the Broad Analytical Expository Report (BAER) approach to teaching critical thinking, and relates experiences in experimental general education courses at a typical regional state university. Suggests…

Details the rethinking of the role of sciences in general education by the Virginia Commonwealth University science faculty. Describes courses designed to provide students not only with a background in concepts and methods, but also to enhance their critical-thinking skills and provide the scientific literacy necessary for informed citizenship.…

Analyzes ethical dilemmas in war-related literature as a vehicle for ethics instruction. Describes key books focusing on such issues as whether all is fair in war, racism, sexism, military training, intelligence operations, conflicting ethical systems, whether anything is worth killing for, and the situation of returned veterans. (30 citations)…

Discusses principles of curricular revision and academic change, focusing on the variety of collaborative relationships that develop during the process. Highlights collaboration among faculty; among academic services staff; and between academic personnel and public relations and admissions departments, institutional development staff, alumni, and…

Describes new college teaching techniques using the brain-compatible teaching and learning model. Demonstrates that learning is based on the process of detecting and making patterns. Suggests maximizing use of local memory function to reduce dependency on rote learning and varying methods of classroom presentation to target different learning…

Examines the history of interdisciplinary studies over the last 30 years, reviewing the growth of interdisciplinary approaches and the structural forms that such programs have taken in higher education. Discusses implications of these changes for traditional disciplines. Highlights impediments to further change. (20 citations) (AJL)

Reviews definitions of caring and describes a model of a caring professor, outlining the benefits, limitations, and other consequences of this approach to teaching. Argues that caring encourages student growth and learning and creates a safe environment for risk-taking. Provides suggestions for creating supportive postsecondary classroom…

Discusses the reluctance of many teachers to embrace innovative teaching strategies because of ethical concerns. Identifies ethical principles and other factors of ethical decision making, demonstrates their application using case studies and fictional vignettes involving attempts at innovation, and outlines a faculty development process in…

Provides a rationale for current scholarly studies of Jonathan Swift. Reviews the two distinct directions taken by modern authors writing about Swift: the traditional historical branch and the rhetorical and literary criticism branch. Considers evidence of and reasons for a revived interest in satire and anticipates areas of future study. (DMM)