Although Language and Literacy research has become an impetus for change in the K-12 arena, Developmental and Adult Education practices have evolved little as a result of such inquiries. Driving instruction away from rote practice of discreet skills, educators have the opportunity to depart from deficit models of education and open up the…

Guidelines are provided for the development of a community college course in critical thinking. The first sections offer an overview of the nature and basic concepts of critical thinking, indicating that: (1) the skills developed in critical thinking classes include the ability to formulate a clear statement of a thesis or problem, evaluate…

Various aspects of the goals and processes of the evaluation of remedial programs are discussed in this paper. The first section discussses assumptions related to remedial program evaluation in California's community colleges and highlights two perspectives, based on whether the remedial programs satisfy internal and/or external criteria. Next, a…

This position paper by the Illinois Association for Personalized Learning Programs (IAPLP) argues that developmental education programs provide the means for improving the quality of education while maintaining equal opportunity and access to higher education. First, a summary of the IAPLP's position on developmental education is presented, along…

Offers information to assist community college practitioners in meeting the needs of learning disabled students. Reviews definitions of learning disabled, identifies the services that should be provided (e.g., assessment, tutoring, advocacy, advising, career counseling, and social skills training), and lists available information sources. (DMM)

Discusses the characteristics of developmental learners that cause an abnormal amount of difficulty understanding science concepts; research findings regarding learning and teaching science effectively; ways of promoting developmental students' success in regular science classes; and ways of individualizing science instruction. (DMM)

Traces the evolution of the basic writing program at the University of Louisville, as related by its first seven directors. Concludes that pedagogical and political strategies that worked took advantage of the academic and student community around them; unsuccessful ideas were those imposed without consideration of local context. (SR)

Examined the effects of goal instability on performance of students enrolled in learning skills courses (N=60). Results showed students with high goal instability had lower grade point averages than students with low goal instability. (BH)

Reports findings on the continued positive effect of remedial/developmental programs on both retention and academic performance of skills deficient students who entered both public and private higher education institutions in New Jersey. (Author/DMM)

Lowman responds to questions concerning his book, "Mastering the Techniques of Teaching," and his views on student-teacher relations, his model for effective college instruction, specific techniques for motivating students, student and teacher responsibility for learning, and the applicability of his model for developmental education. (DMM)

Describes a philosophy course offered at East Carolina University through the Special Studies Program for marginally-admissable students. The program uses selected readings from Russell, James, Sartre, and others and the Personalized System of Instruction to build critical thinking, reading, and study skills, while introducing students to the…

Demonstrates the usefulness and practicality of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) (1979, version 79.5) as a data base management system for a developmental studies program. SAS is available on IBM computers at educational institutions across the country, and it provides an effective tool for data management. (Author)

This meta-analytic synthesis of findings from 60 evaluation studies schowed that special college programs for high-risk students have had basically positive effects on students. High-risk students who enrolled in such programs stayed in college somewhat longer than control students did, and they received somewhat better grades in regular college…

The purpose of this dissertation was to describe motivation in developmental mathematics students, particularly in low-performing students. Data collection involved interviews with developmental mathematics faculty members who were asked to describe the motivation of developmental mathematics students, analyses of student learning journals, and…

During the 1997-98 academic year, members of the Germanna Community College (Virginia) English faculty observed that students were having difficulty with reading comprehension in the content areas. Faculty conducted an informal survey of Virginia Community College System colleagues, and learned that the placement test cutoff scores used at…