Community colleges continue to increase their efforts to better serve students who enter their institutions with limited basic math, reading, or writing skills. In 2015, MDRC partnered with the Texas Coordinating Higher Education Board on a study to examine how colleges implemented state guidelines for students scoring below ninth-grade…

As the state emerges from another recession, jobs that remain and those opening require workers with higher-order skills most often acquired in postsecondary education. Increasing numbers of adults look to community colleges to learn those skills and to find a way out of a cycle of low paying, unstable jobs. Even workers with years of experience…

Community colleges play an important role in the U.S. economy, providing access to higher education for low-income young people, a path to higher-earning employment for low-income workers, and a supply of well-trained employees for local industry. In order to remain competitive with other major economies, however, the U.S. must sharply increase…

Investigates using comprehension monitoring as a technique for problem solving by students in three different sections of developmental algebra. Concludes that students who receive increased emphasis in the use of comprehension monitoring strategies perform better than those who do not receive the training. (Contains 16 references.) (NB)

Discusses a study concerning the effective use of Supplemental Instruction (SI) in 90 developmental mathematics courses at a southern state university in spring, summer, and fall 2000. Reports that, based on student outcomes, SI may have made a positive difference in performance and retention rates for the students. (Contains 16 references.)…

Focuses on the effective use of technology in developmental mathematics instruction. Suggests that graphing calculators facilitate teaching and learning while scientific calculators do not. Discusses ways that hearing-impaired mathematics students can use the Internet for instruction at the Rochester Institute of Technology (New York). (Contains…

This report offers research and analysis of outcomes for 15,743 students who enrolled in basic skills mathematics classes at Rio Hondo College in California between fall 1996 and summer 2001. The research was done at the request of the basic skills mathematics faculty. Although the California Community College Chancellor's Office defines remedial…

Argues against the diminishing emphasis on mathematics as a logic system. Examines some of the basic tenets of logic and argues that when mathematics students are shown how to use logic and reasoning rather than memorization, they are able to develop stronger critical thinking skills. (AUTH/NB)

A description is provided of a pilot study conducted at Butte College to develop and test evaluation procedures for the college's remedial and developmental reading, English, and math programs. Part I of the report includes five sections: (1) a description of the remedial reading, English, and mathematics programs as they existed at Butte College…

Conducted during the 1979-80 school year, this study gathered statistical information as to the success of the developmental mathematics program at Arkansas State University (ASU). The investigation focused on a comparison between Foundation Mathematics students who took Basic Mathematics as a follow-up course and pupils who enrolled in Basic…

A comparative evaluation was made of the ability of four Academic Tests of the American College Test (ACT) Assessment Program and Descriptive Tests of Language Skills (DTLS) to predict course grades and freshman grade-point average for students enrolled in a basic skills program at a large university. (Author/GK)

Argues that online instructors have a great impact on the quality of a student's online experience. Demonstrates through the author's personal experience as an online instructor that written communication skills are essential in an online classroom. (Contains seven references.) (NB)

Milwaukee Area Technical College's (MATC's) responses to the need for developmental mathematics instruction are reviewed in this paper. The paper begins by briefly describing a project which MATC undertook in 1965 through 1970 to develop technical mathematics materials and courses which were relevant for technicians and matched the entry-level…

This document reports on student outcomes in developmental English and mathematics courses at Germanna Community College (Virginia) for the academic period 1994-2000. The study addressed four main issues: (1) the proportion of students enrolled in developmental math and English courses; (2) the success rate for students in developmental courses;…

Issues in community college basic skills instruction are reviewed and two model programs are outlined in this paper. First, concerns about student illiteracy, lack of academic preparation, and failure to complete courses are discussed, and public demands for educational accountability are examined. Next, the relationship between the "open…