Recommends an approach to basic skills instruction which takes poetry as its focus to study grammar, style, and ideas. Reports three benefits: poetry gives students something significant to read, utilizes professionals' grammar and usage to teach these areas, and generates readable topics for writing. Provides two typical assignments. (DMM)

Entering freshmen needing remedial work in mathematics were assigned to conventional, modular, or programed courses. The effectiveness of these methods was compared on the basis of student success within the course and in follow-up courses. (SD)

Instructional materials for North Seattle Community College's course "Humanities in Thought and Action" are presented. The course, the goals of which are to increase students' knowledge of art, drama, language, literature, and music, while also improving communication and thinking skills, involves multi-media presentations by 14 guest lecturers…

This paper describes the three phases in the evolution of the Mount Royal College (Canada) Learning Assistance Program, beginning with the clinical approach (1969), moving to a credited class structure (1970), and finally to the present non-credit workshop approach (1971). The Learning Assistance Program was established to help students needing…

Advocates the pragmatic approach to general education, suggesting that the educationally well-rounded occupational student advances more rapidly and goes higher in his career field. Stresses the importance of "general education courses", which make the student proficient and knowledgeable in his field and "supporting courses" which teach basic…

Reviews research on student assessment and placement, focusing on problems and questions; methods of assessment; establishing cut scores; and evaluation of course placement systems. Includes an extensive bibliography. (LAL)

Describes a program designed to integrate reading instruction with course content. (KS)

Labette Community College (LCC), Parsons, Kansas, a public comprehensive community college, received a 5-year Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen their academic programs through the implementation of computer-assisted basic skills instruction coupled with a comprehensive retention program. To study the progress…

This paper provides an overview of a discussion about the establishment of a basic skills discipline at the Spring 1990 Session of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. The Ad Hoc Basic Skills Committee heard arguments and concerns on both sides of the issue. Arguments for the opposition included concern about the fragmentation of…

Community colleges have many concerns over attrition and retention rates. Studies show that 50% of freshmen drop out before completion of a degree or certificate, and nearly half of all attending students are 25 years or older yet lack basic math, reading, and writing skills. Students experiencing learning difficulties, and older students such as…

Argues that if students are unable to show improvement after two semesters of innovative writing instruction, they should not be forced to continue to write essays. (AEA)

Applies the six stages of B. Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive skills to developing a pedagogy for teaching basic writing. (AEA)

Urges community services planners to focus programs on critical human needs, such as literacy, and to think of the community as an extended family, pooling its resources to meet its members' basic needs. Suggests that community services be viewed as a gift without immediate demand for reciprocity. (AYC)

Discusses mainstreaming and centralization, two ways in which community colleges organize developmental education. Compares these models in terms of instructional quality, ancillary services, teacher characteristics, student reactions, reputation, and remediation. Offers recommendations to college administrators and state policy makers for…

Identifies employee skills needed by U.S. business/industry: generic skills (e.g., reading, writing, computation, problem solving), relational skills (e.g., ability to work better and in more sophisticated ways with diverse groups); responsibility skills (e.g., taking initiative in learning); and integration skills (e.g., ability to make meaning…