Research conducted by the Community College Research Center (CCRC) and others was criticized in an article by Alexandros M. Goudas and Hunter R. Boylan (2012) published in the "Journal of Developmental Education," Volume 36, Issue 1. They raise specific contentions related to the methodology applied in the CCRC studies, the review of…

Discusses the interplay of short- and long-term goals in developmental education, suggesting that long-term goals should provide the focus, stability, and motivation for short-term goals. Indicates that successful programs utilize strategic approaches to learning and use means which meet both sets of goals simultaneously. (MAB)

In the context of a discussion of the role of developmental education in the nation's community colleges, this paper responds to criticisms of developmental education that have been made in recent years. First, the paper considers the role of developmental education in promoting literacy, examines definitions of literacy, highlights results of…

Responds to criticisms commonly leveled against community colleges with respect to their provision of developmental education. Looks at issues related to program costs, departmental responsibility, articulation with secondary schools, teacher preparation, placement and diagnostic test validity. (DMM)

Describes four conditions that lead to productive teacher/tutor relationships: teacher choice of a tutor; understanding by both of the goals of the program; mutual understanding of the nature and limits of each other's authority and responsibility; and tutors' presence at and observable involvement in each class. (AYC)

Reports on the need for developmental education to prepare students for success in higher education. Looks at the performance of developmental students and their characteristics. Describes the role community and technical colleges play as providers of developmental education, characteristics of a successful developmental program, and ways to…

Identifies and refutes seven myths regarding developmental education. Indicates that developmental education programs have a long history in America, raise academic standards, contribute to retention, are cost-effective, serve a diverse population, should not be limited to community colleges, and do not repeat high school course offerings.…

This paper presents preliminary findings of the five-year research project, "Accelerating the Education of Remedial Students in Higher Education," which is examining effects of current remedial courses at the postsecondary level and exploring the applicability of the "accelerated schools" concept as an alternative. This paper…

Following a discussion of various methods of evaluating the effectiveness of developmental programs, this paper presents a research design for the evaluation of a developmental math program. First, the paper examines the objectives and benefits of conducting formative and summative program evaluations. The paper then identifies the single group…

Discusses the importance of academic support services in ensuring the effectiveness of developmental programs. Describes the Learning Assistance Support System developed in Washington's community college system and Luzerne County Community College's Institute for Developmental Educational Activities. (DMM)

Analyzes factors internal to the tutor and tutee (i.e., cognition, metacognition, and affect) and external to them (e.g., teacher/tutor background knowledge, educational environment, content to be learned, socioeconomic status, family background, and cultural forces) that influence the tutoring process. Suggests a theoretical framework for…

Three types of evaluation methods are discussed in terms of their use in evaluating both cognitive and affective learning in developmental programs: standardized tests; criterion-referenced tests; and naturalistic inquiries. Section I looks at the complexities of learning and the inherent difficulties in judging the quality and quantity of what is…

The workshop represented in this proceedings was conducted to stimulate dialogue on the place of remedial instruction in postsecondary education and to promote the effectiveness of remedial/developmental education and the maintenance of educational quality. The proceedings begin with an introduction to the workshop and its 14 resulting…

These five serial issues focus on the outcomes of developmental education. Featured are the following articles: (1) "Developmental Instruction: What Really Makes a Difference?" by Hunter R. Boylan, which reviews several research-based models or theories of learning, including the Carroll model, the Bloom model, and the Bruner model, and discusses…

This paper discusses the role of developmental or remedial education in higher education. Some students enroll in developmental courses because they are reentering college after many years out of a classroom. Others are recent high school graduates seeking better study skills and yet others are students lacking required course work from high…