The Alternative Services To Raise Achievement (ASTRA) program at the Greater Hartford (Connecticut) Community College is designed to supply developmental and other services to students with academic potential who are in need of such services to complete their education. The program's structure is intended to meet the diverse needs of students;…

To assess the effects of traditional and experimental approaches to a remedial mathematics course at Pasadena City College, data was collected on a control and experimental class of the course. The control class was taught by a teacher who was assigned the class in order to complete his teaching load; this class was taught in the traditional…

This paper describes the development of a program to teach reading and learning skills at the Kansas City, Kansas Community College, which was designed to decrease academic failure in vocational education programs. Primary goals of the program were to develop a screening test to identify students in need of assistance, before academic problems…

Describes college level courses in basic concepts designed for the basic skills student. (MKM)

Based on a review of research and literature on student academic performance, provides an overview of the state of basic skills (developmental) instruction in the two-year college. Discusses the characteristics of successful basic skills programs. (DMM)

Methods for using a programmed format for instruction in basic mathematics courses are discussed. (DT)

This report describes the developmental education program at Jefferson Davis Community College (JDCC) (Alabama). Approximately 59% of JDCC's student population must take pre-college, or developmental, courses in math, reading, English, and study skills. JDCC's developmental program includes computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in reading, math, and…

Focuses on the effective use of technology in developmental mathematics instruction. Suggests that graphing calculators facilitate teaching and learning while scientific calculators do not. Discusses ways that hearing-impaired mathematics students can use the Internet for instruction at the Rochester Institute of Technology (New York). (Contains…

Argues that both personal and text-based essays should be used in teaching writing to students in developmental composition courses. Suggests that combining the two approaches and using short fiction or fictive autobiographies as course readings helps to initiate the student's transition from personal to text-based writing. (Contains 21…

Tech prep prepares people for technical careers by linking high school studies with community college coursework. The Pee Dee Tech Prep Program in North Carolina is a joint venture between the Richmond County Schools and Richmond Community College that connects essential skills learned in high school with occupation-specific skills taught in…

Describes a study evaluating an experimental approach to developmental mathematics instruction. Indicates that the experimental group was taught with a method incorporating traditional methods with student research in topics related to mathematics. Suggests that, when significant, the differences between the experimental and control groups favored…

Presents an interview with Edward Morante, Dean of Student Services and Learning Resources at College of the Desert (California), regarding the needs of high-risk community college students. Morante focuses on assessment, placement, basic-skills courses, student-support services, the learning-community concept, student involvement, and evaluation,…

This bulletin describes the Dallas Community College District's (DCCD's) efforts to develop a common learning core curriculum. Introductory material discusses the creation of Committees for Common Learning to decide on standards and requirements for all students who enroll in degree programs at any of the seven district colleges and to design an…

In light of substantial declines in enrollments in liberal arts mathematics courses in two-year colleges, this paper looks at some of the reasons for these declines and suggests ways of revitalizing the traditional "great ideas" mathematics course. First, a brief outline is presented of the history of liberal arts mathematics, focusing on the…

The need for colleges to develop critical thinking skills in mainstream courses is emerging as an issue of national significance. Students benefit from clearly articulated and pedagogically sound courses that directly and explicitly teach thinking skills, as well as from efforts to reinforce these abilities across the curriculum. At LaGuardia…