Curriculum alignment is the conscious congruence of three educational elements: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Alignment is rooted in the belief that instructional plans are established through outcomes-based content goals and the goal of assuring that delivery and assessment are congruent. Platform unity, based on the Principles of…

Designed to assist California community college personnel in implementing 1986 regulations concerning associate degree requirements, this paper analyzes the key terms in the new policy, "college level" and "critical thinking," and discusses practical implications for assessment, curriculum, and instruction. First, the paper…

One common sense approach to college teaching might simply be to implement those practices that are proven reliable and frequently review the methods that seem to result in learning and those that do not. Guidelines based on some instructional approaches that have worked at Mohawk College in Ontario, Canada include the following: (1) assume that…

This article explores the interdisciplinary course offerings at 164 institutions that participated in a 1998 curriculum analysis by the Center for the Study of Community Colleges. It examines interdisciplinary courses in the context of the total curriculum, and discusses examples of existing interdisciplinary programs, the benefits and…

Describes the success of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development's "Innovation Abstracts," a weekly publication written by and for practitioners. Suggests that the publication's success has spread beyond its originally intended audience to faculty, students, trustee and advisory boards, community residents,…

Contends that community colleges need to move from the comfort of the instruction paradigm to that of the learning paradigm for the next century. Asserts that a curriculum based on learner outcomes can be created with the aid of new technology and well-trained faculty. Proposes suggestions for making the transformation to become a learner-centered…

Reports on Jim Jacobs and Roberta Teahen's efforts to develop a systematic approach of integrating career and academic education. The movement began in 1995 with representatives from four Michigan community colleges. Presents examples from various colleges across Michigan that demonstrate success in curriculum integration. (VWC)

At McCook Community College (MCC) in Nebraska, a teachers' guide was developed to introduce the goals and processes of outcomes-based learning (also termed competency-based education and mastery learning) to the college faculty. Several procedures were used: a review of the literature, an analysis of two previously existing manuals, and a review…

This series of one- to two-page abstracts highlights a variety of innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the community college. Topics covered in the abstracts include: (1) academic partnerships pairing "high-risk" students with a concerned faculty member, counselor, or administrator; (2) teacher-to-teacher learning partnerships; (3)…

This paper focuses on the need for continuous evaluation in community college curriculum. During the process of analyzing and updating instruction, curriculum objectives should be recognized, especially: (1) knowledge objectives, which include relevant facts, concepts, and generalizations; (2) skills objectives, such as critical and creative…

Drawing from an extensive literature review and interviews with faculty and administrators in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), this study report examines successful practices in basic skills instruction in community colleges. After providing background on the importance of basic skills programs in light of the increasing number…

This paper identifies five difficulties in teaching the analysis of social problems, and proffers "mind maps," a concept that refers to the ways in which students create a visual representation of their thinking patterns, as a possible solution. In constructing mind maps, especially for a Social Problems course, the following four steps…

Science faculty at small community colleges often face the problem of teaching courses at off-campus locations without laboratory facilities or equipment. An introductory physical science course offered at Southampton Correctional Center in Capron, Virginia, illustrates one approach to this problem. First, the instructor met with students prior to…

Employs personal in-depth interviews as a first step in helping faculty to develop quality curricula by allowing them to articulate their instructional needs. Reveals three general themes: preliminary course-design considerations, instructional delivery methods, and faculty instructional needs. Discusses implications for expanding teaching…

The 16 papers in this proceedings describe strategies and practices used in undergraduate psychology courses at two- and four-year colleges. The following presentations are included: (1) "Using the IDEAL Problem Solving Method in Groups," by R. Scott Smith; (2) "The Soul of Active Learning: Connecting Psychology and Faith," by…