The report discusses the findings of a study on the reading and writing demands of college-level courses at Maryland's Charles County Community College (College of Southern Maryland as of July 1, 2000). The Language and Literature Department wanted to determine whether its developmental courses were actually preparing students for the reading and…

Unless questions about student performance and student retention can be answered and unless educators are proactive in finding and publicizing such information, basic writing programs cannot determine if what they are doing is working. Hard data, especially from underrepresented groups, is needed to support these programs. At Arizona State…

Urges instructors interested in applying computer technology in developmental education and learning assistance centers to survey campus and community computer resources, learn computer terminology, read computer literature, join computer organizations, and consult experts. Offers suggestions for choosing a computer system and programs, writing…

Reviews Peterson's 1979 study of the current and preferred ranking of 20 educational goals at 18 community colleges. In response to their low ranking, explains how community services are linked to three more highly rated goals: college community, personal development, and developmental/remedial education. (DML)

Discusses avenues developmental studies staff can take in programs, including winning extradepartmental faculty support, strengthening the flow of information to administrators and faculty, and building administrative trust. Emphasizes that administrators need concrete evidence that these programs benefit students and the college. (CAM)

Describes some compensatory and developmental strategies that are designed to help the secondary student with learning disabilities achieve the objectives of vocational education. These strategies are discussed as they relate to cognitive abilities, learning processes, attention and concentration, academic skills, and work habits. (CT)

Ted Miller, professor of counseling and human development at the University of Georgia, defines developmental education and student development and then discusses the components of the Tomorrow's Higher Education Model for Student Development and the need for student affairs practitioners to foster student development rather than cater to…

Presents the theory that rhetorical modes taught in developmental writing courses parallel the process of human cognitive development. Describes the teaching strategies and competencies incorporated in a developmental writing course which proceeds sequentially from description through analysis, comparison, classification, and cause and effect. (JP)

Three articles by practicing instructors suggest techniques for improving developmental student success. Judith Maisey describes values clarification strategies designed to help students better understand their world views. Beverly Stratton discusses the use of graphics in teaching paragraph organization. Judy Lambert outlines writing topics…

Discusses the need for and the skill development and comprehensive approaches to postsecondary developmental education. Describes three models of student assessment/placement and proposes a five-step model. Considers the establishment of proficiency standards, screening test selection, student processing, assistance centers, and evaluation. (AYC)

Describes a scavenger hunt assignment in a freshman orientation course. Uses the idea of the scavenger hunt as a way to locate and utilize campus resources and gain insight into the grading and self-evaluation process. Contains four resources, with sample assignments appended. (NB)

Presents findings from a study of 134 college students to determine differences in cognitive styles between developmental and regular admission students, focusing on the concept of field dependence and independence. Finds no significant differences, with 38% of the non-developmental and 40% of the developmental students being field independent.…

Suggests using weekly news magazines to help students develop reading and writing skills. Discusses classroom activities used by the author, such as free reading time, asking questions, writing exercises, maintaining portfolios, analyzing advertisements, tests based on articles, letter writing, and voter registration due to increased interest in…

Reports on author's experiences using lower-division developmental education (DE) students as teaching assistants in developmental social science courses. Includes benefits, such as assisting in students' socialization and dispelling DE stigma, and drawbacks, such as tension created by authoritarian role. Also includes comments made by students…

Discusses seating arrangements in small developmental classes, suggesting that having students sit in a semi-circle or work in small groups can be effective ways to keep students from attempting to disappear in the back of the class. Also offers ways to deal with this issue in a computer classroom. (NB)