This annual newsletter contains updates on the latest Community College Research Center (CCRC) research, new publications and details of upcoming presentations at major conferences. The feature article in this issue, "The Growing Prominence of Community Colleges," by Thomas Bailey, discusses how today's community colleges are increasingly…

This report offers California college faculty a closer look at contextualized teaching and learning (CTL) as a promising set of strategies and practices that can be expanded through the state's Basic Skills Initiative. The report is relevant to a range of instructional and counseling faculty, including academic and career and technical education…

A nonexperimental ex post facto comparative study in the Jackson Area Career Center (Michigan) determined the correlation between basic skills grade levels indicated by standardized tests and success or failure in auto mechanics classes. In addition, the study determined whether the grade level of achievement in basic skills is correlated with…

Designed primarily for special needs students in a vocational program in automobile maintenance, this book was written to refine the basic skills of following directions, reading comprehension, vocabulary building, spelling, word usage, and word recognition, while relating these skills to some of the tasks a beginning student in the program must…

The book presents three 93-day lesson plans to motivate and teach handicapped secondary students basic academic skills in reading and language arts, English, and mathematics in conjunction with learning about automobile engines from Revell's Visible V8 Engine Kit. Each lesson plan is correlated with the Visible V8 Engine Kit and includes daily…

This competency-based module uses the Ocean County (New Jersey) Vocational-Technical Schools curriculum-infused model for infusing basic skills instruction into vocational education. The model demonstrates the relationship of vocational skills to communication, mathematics, and science. The document begins with a philosophy statement; preface; a…

As part of a project that identified the specific literacy skills required in ten occupations, this report provides two levels of instructional information about auto mechanics. Factual data are presented in Parts I and II for use in decision making by program developers, administrators, teachers, and counselors. These sections note the specific…

This instructor's guide contains materials for teaching the steering and suspension specialist component of a competency-based instructional program for students preparing for employment in the automotive service trade. It is based on National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence task lists. The six instructional units contain materials…

This competency-based module uses the Ocean County (New Jersey) Vocational-Technical Schools curriculum-infused model for infusing basic skills instruction into vocational education. The model demonstrates the relationship of vocational skills to communication, mathematics, and science. The document begins with a philosophy statement; preface; a…

This document contains the competency test package for three sections of a general mechanical repair course: minor automotive maintenance, small engine mechanics, and welding. Following a list of the common essential elements for trade and industrial education, competency tests for the three sections are provided. Each test includes unit name,…

A project was undertaken to develop a series of program-specific vocational locator tests (PSVLTs) that would consist of subject-specific questions in three academic disciplines--writing, reading, and mathematics--for use in predicting vocational students' success in their vocational programs. As a prelude to constructing the tests, project staff…

The document reports the development of three pre-entry criterion--referenced tests (Skill Checks) designed to assess an applicant's verbal and numerical competencies and to assist in the implementation of remedial education where needed, in the vocational training areas of office occupations, automotive mechanics, and machine shop. A general…

This instructor's guide contains materials for teaching the manual drive trains and axle specialist component of a competency-based instructional program for students preparing for employment in the automotive service trade. It is based on National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence task lists. Six instructional units contain materials…

This competency-based module uses the Ocean County (New Jersey) Vocational-Technical Schools curriculum-infused model for infusing basic skills instruction into vocational education. The model demonstrates the relationship of vocational skills to communication, mathematics, and science. The document begins with a philosophy statement; preface; a…

A study identified related skills needed in five diploma programs offered in the Technical Division of John C. Calhoun State Community College in Decatur, Alabama. The programs were automotive technology, refrigeration/air conditioning, electrical technology, design drafting technology, and cosmetology. Thirty-five area businesses and industries…