A high school fashion design teacher has much in common with the ringmaster of a three-ring circus. The challenges of teaching a hands-on course are to facilitate the entire class and to meet the needs of individual students. When teaching family and consumer sciences, the goal is to have a learner-active classroom. Revamping the high school's…

Body image perception and body mass index (BMI) among college students exposed and not exposed to photographs of models were compared. Classes were assigned to receive a presentation with or without photographs of models incorporated. Students (n = 184) completed a survey about body/weight satisfaction, height, weight, and the Contour Drawing…

Much of what is taught in the family and consumer sciences (FCS) classroom is based on scientific research. The existing knowledge base is so broad that overlooking research as a teaching resource and tool happens often. Research enhances what is taught, thereby improving the effectiveness of teachers. Whether it be applying or translating…

Undergraduate research in the sciences has been shown by numerous studies to enhance the educational experience. The Undergraduate Research Community (URC) founded in 2001 supports several initiatives that promote research in human sciences/family and consumer sciences including an online peer-reviewed journal specifically for undergraduate work,…

This study examines characteristics of family and consumer sciences (FCS) collegiate faculty who do and do not incorporate service-learning in their teaching and determines their dominant mode of teaching practice. Survey results from 368 faculty members in institutions of higher education across the United States demonstrate that FCS faculty…

Understanding the research process is a vital part of the undergraduate experience. Conducting research helps students see the value of the scientific process and various research methods, and encourages inquisitiveness about family and consumer sciences (FCS) issues. Research experiences augment students' professional development, increase their…

This study compared attitudes and confidence levels, regarding classroom nutrition education, of seventh grade teachers of nutrition, family and consumer sciences (FCS), or health education. A 17-item online questionnaire was used to obtain the data from randomly selected schools in Louisiana. Teachers who reported an educational background in FCS…

Finding relevant digital images to create presentation boards requires advanced search skills. This article describes a course assignment involving a technique designed to develop students' literacy skills with respect to locating images of desired quality and content from Internet databases. The assignment was applied in a collegiate apparel…

The purpose of this article is to address the relationship between the purchase of counterfeit apparel goods by college students and their knowledge and concern of counterfeiting. Additionally, students' beliefs regarding the legality of manufacturing, distributing, and purchasing counterfeit goods are examined. This topic is important because…

Grant writing can be a valuable experience for family and consumer sciences (FCS) undergraduates. By writing a grant, students develop creative and innovative ways to make a difference and give back. This article highlights a grant writing project that helps students better understand the integrative nature of FCS and its role in society.…

This article examines a number of issues facing family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers in today's middle and high school classrooms and reviews literature supporting the use of newspapers as a valuable teaching resource in light of these issues. Suggestions for using newspapers and newspaper industry resources to enhance the FCS curriculum…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Japanese family and consumer sciences teachers' self-disclosure in the classroom. Twelve secondary school teachers were interviewed, beginning with this primary question, "Think about a specific time and space when you self-disclosed in the classroom. Would you…

Growing interest in entrepreneurship among younger workers has implications for university family and consumer sciences (FCS) programs. This study assessed FCS majors' attitudes toward entrepreneurship as a career path. Students viewed entrepreneurship opportunities as attractive and were confident about their possibilities for success; however,…

The profile and needs of today's undergraduate students have changed, and family and consumer sciences (FCS) departments will benefit from taking a proactive approach to adjust their recruitment strategies to meet those needs. California State University, Sacramento, implemented successful efforts in the areas of virtual contact, direct contact,…

The availability and convenience of the Internet, combined with the variety of products available at any given time, have contributed to the success of online auctions.This exploratory study examined online auction behaviors among college students in an attempt to identify underlying dimensions of auction motivations. Questionnaires completed by…