Maintains that welfare rights are not incompatible with liberalism's commitment to private property and freedom. Argues that students need to be aware of liberalism's favorable historical position on welfare. Examines the positions of John Locke, Thomas Paine, and John Stuart Mills on poverty, welfare, and the role of the state. (RW)

Maintains there is a positive correlation between the study of ideologies and democracy, stressing that political theorists should teach political ideologies. Examines the current debate over the study of ideologies and the history of ideology. Suggests ways studying ideologies teaches students democratic values, and defines democratic thinking as…

Proposes teaching political philosophy utilizing a model of Socratic discussion. Describes the use of Socratic discourse in a course entitled Contemporary Political Thought. Divides the course into three components: "the man on the street" analysis of issues; the use of social science literature; and philosophical readings on the issues. Includes…

Discusses a course on U.S. Congress in which students analyze Congress as an institution, the role of Congress in the political system, and Congressional members. Emphasizes the role Congress should play in the Madisonian policy process. Examines the history of Congress, budgetary politics, foreign policy, and congressional reforms. Includes…

Briefly describes two guidebooks, published by the National Center for Research to Improve Postsecondary Teaching and Learning, designed to assist both teaching assistants (TAs) and professors to improve instruction. Stresses the importance of course planning and writing effective syllabi. Argues TAs need to learn skills from their current…

Suggests college teachers examine their nonverbal expressions (eye contact, voice quality, movement, clothing) and align them to complement verbal expressions. Surveys studies that found teaching effectiveness improved when verbal and nonverbal communication styles corresponded. Reveals how students trusted nonverbal expressions to mirror…

Reports a survey that indicates approximately half of U.S. political science departments offer an introductory course in urban politics and that enrollments have remained steady, although the course's popularity has declined since the 1970s. Discusses textbooks used and course objectives, revealing a shift from a reformist orientation to…

Reviews recent literature on urban politics and urban policy. Focuses on issues faced by cities of the 1990s: city planning, growth, politics, problems of housing, homelessness, cost of government, racial, and ethnic conflicts. Suggests that field trips and computer simulations can be used in college courses in urban studies. (CH)

Presents rationale and procedure for a role playing simulation, used in a first-year political science course. Notes that the game's purpose is to make real the problems urban policymakers face. Sees active student participation as a sign of the game's success. Includes course syllabus. (CH)

Outlines a project designed to inform students about library reference sources essential to an introductory course in comparative politics. Suggests how the project can incorporate current topics. Stresses the importance of student familiarity with periodical guides, newspaper indexes, standard biographical sources, and yearbooks. (CH)

Provides two sequential writing assignments, a foreign policy issue brief and an issue analysis project, used in introductory political science courses as part of a writing-across-the-curriculum program at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Explains each assignment's component parts and the reliance on teacher-student interaction for success.…

Discusses the six program standards of the national science education standards: program consistency; embedded content, inquiry, and connections; resources; equitable and excellent science programs for all; science integrated with mathematics; and communities of learners. (MKR)

Presents a lab to analyze plant and animal materials for the presence of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins by describing and presenting simple tests in common breakfast food items. (MKR)

Discusses strategies by which high school teachers can take advantage of the assistance parents can provide, including reading articles with their children, mini-projects, and home labs. (MKR)

Data were collected from approximately 1,600 teachers to get a statistical picture of Australian science teachers. Questionnaires provided information on sex, age, qualifications, experience, mobility, teaching conditions, lesson preparation, professional development, perceived syllabus freedom, and professional association affiliation. Results…