Describes La Guardia Community College's interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of critical thinking, focusing on the program's impact on literacy, reasoning, problem solving, and critical attitudes. Presents guidelines for integrating critical thinking. Discusses the importance of professional development to encourage curricular changes,…

Four elements contribute to a classroom's success or failure as a learning environment: student needs, instructor approach, course content, and institutional setting. This chapter discusses the challenge of aligning these elements in the developmental classroom.

Suggests that both general and developmental education focus on such preparatory skills as communicating effectively and thinking critically. Describes current approaches combining general and developmental education. Explains the mechanics of cross-over teaching between the two domains. (PAA)

Describes a 1989 study of 22,931 course offerings at 29 comprehensive community colleges in Michigan, undertaken to assess status of general education. Reports low availability and breadth of general education courses, contrary to the perceptions of campus administrators surveyed. Suggests steps to evaluate and enhance general education offerings.…

Offers guidelines for the assessment of critical thinking ability, suggesting that assessment be integral to learning, involve a range of behaviors, emphasize expected course, program, or institutional outcomes, incorporate structured feedback and an external dimension, and be cumulative. Lists steps in developing an assessment plan. (DMM)

Describes the writing-intensive courses developed at Broome Community College, Rockland Community College, and Kapiolani Community College as graduation requirements to incorporate writing permanently into the curriculum. Reviews the problems experienced at each campus in gaining faculty and student support. (DMM)

Argues institutionalizing international education begins at the course level. Considers strategies for adding an international component to community college education, including incorporating international modules into existing courses; revising the requirements for particular majors; and reforming the general education curriculum. (DMM)