Some effort to test the effectiveness of teacher assistant training programs is common, but these evaluations are typically limited to measures of student satisfaction. Two forms of assessment commonly used in elementary and secondary teacher training programs, measuring levels of teaching anxiety and teacher efficacy, may be of use for sociology…

The first day of an introductory sociology course provides a crucial first impression to both students and instructor. The information instructors present on the organization, content, and expectations of the course reduces student anxiety and uncertainty. Instructors use self-introductions to address first day concerns and to provide information…

Teaching about intersecting, fluid and historically contingent identities has been taken up extensively within the sociology of race, class and gender and women's studies. Oddly, the case of Jewish women has been virtually left out of this robust literature. This article explores the challenges raised through teaching the course "Jewish Women in…

Although all of us must teach against the text at times, I find myself doing this most often when teaching about qualitative methods in the context of a general introductory methods course. Myths about the nature and practice of qualitative research are both embedded in the folklore of mainstream sociology and supported by the textbooks that we…

Describes a technique for the first class session of a course in Race and Nationality that uses a staged confrontation between a White professor and a Black student over a racial joke. Shows how the technique, in combination with student field research projects, provides an important link between common student experiences and abstract issues in…

Describes a teaching technique which provides variety for Human Sexuality classes by incorporating in class discussion community experts and guests who deal with various social and psychological aspects of human sexuality on a daily basis. Contains discussions presented by these experts and indicates that this technique provides students with…

Describes how an anonymous sexuality essay was used in an undergraduate sociology classroom to bridge some of the conflicts between the traditional structure of the classroom and the somewhat unusual demands involved in teaching about sexuality. States that the approach rewards both students and professors, as the essays create a "world"…

Describes a technique for teaching human sexuality in the undergraduate classroom in which the teacher portrays a famous person presenting sexuality topics from his or her perspective. Describes the content of several of these "guest lecturers." Explains the benefits and potential problems of the method. (AEM)

Describes a college course on human sexuality, its goals and evolution. Includes a section on student enrollment, student reasons for taking the course, and a discussion of goals and techniques for human sexuality instruction. (Author/AEM)

An innovative approach to introductory sociology is based on the perspective that knowledge be viewed as an emergent process derived from the classroom situation. Three basic problems for the instructor are reviewed, covering details of textbooks, discussion techniques, and paper topics. (KM)

The problem of extremely large introductory sociology classes is solved by a combination lecture-discussion method in which basic social processes are generated and experienced by the student. General objectives, basic procedures, and rules are outlined; results are discussed. (KM)

Defines inappropriate challenges as behaviors suggesting incompetence based solely on certain professor's social characteristics, especially gender and race. Discusses recent research on this problem concerning challenges from students, colleagues, and administrators. Lists suggested coping strategies, including changing the climate on campus and…

Explores the classroom management of student self-disclosure of sensitive topics. Focuses on the experience of students using their employment in the sex industry as springboards to class projects. Examines student difficulties in releasing information versus classroom dynamics and teacher-student interactions. Includes references. (CMK)

Reports on efforts of two professors to counter the adverse effects of large survey classes. Data are presented concerning their efforts to encourage students to formulate and hand in written spontaneous questions concerning material presented in the lectures. Suggests that this procedure stimulates critical thinking by both instructor and…

Describes writing exercises that stimulate learning while not burdening the instructor. Discusses simulations in which students are asked to write a diary entry about the daily experiences of a 75-year-old, to formulate a marriage contract, and to write a letter to a friend describing the student's worst job experience. (KO)