Numerous studies indicate that new nursing graduates lack the ability to respond quickly in situations with deteriorating patients and are struggling with competency and clinical judgment. As healthcare increases in complexity and the nursing workforce declines, new and innovative teaching methods are needed for clinical experiences to produce…

Community-college professors possess knowledge in distinct disciplines and have varied experiences that they encompass in their college classrooms. Additionally, creating effective environments for teaching and learning require these assets from instructors to fulfill their curriculum needs. Teaching is a multidimensional and complex activity that…

In 2013, an urban college developed a mandatory soft skills course. Unique among postsecondary institutions, the course has been running since fall 2015. Research has now been conducted into the effectiveness of the course. A mixed-methods research study collected primary data and a literature review of the pertinent secondary data. Data sets…

This study investigates the impact of the Case-Based Learning (CBL) method for the topic of 'B6, B9 and B12 Vitamins' on students' academic achievement in a biochemistry course for an associate degree level in health. To this end, a case study with the title 'The Reasons for Depression: Do We Know What They Are?' was developed and implemented. The…

The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to determine if the chosen format, online or traditional, of anatomy and physiology courses impacted the retention of the anatomy and physiology knowledge base in the Associate Degree Nursing program at a large-sized, urban community college within the North Carolina Community College System.…

Research has shown that a moderate to high level of Active Learning (AL) is helpful for all students, especially for disadvantaged students. In this study we measured student perceptions of case-based learning (CBL), a type of AL, in anatomy and physiology courses at a four-year university and a community college. We compared perceptions of CBL to…

This qualitative multiple case study explored front-line classified staff interactions with students as a possible strategy for increasing student success. The study was based on the premise that too few students stay at a community college long enough to achieve their academic goals. Therefore, college leaders must identify new strategies to…

For the past decade, MDRC has evaluated a number of interventions designed to improve the outcomes of community college students, including enhanced counseling, learning communities, and financial incentives. Encouragingly, many of these strategies have produced positive effects, affirming that changes in institutional practices and policies can…

The purpose of this study was to explore the essential leadership practices, abilities, and experiences of Deans of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and to consider how these Deans of CTE fit into the succession process of the community college. A qualitative case study was conducted with three dyads of career Deans and their supervising…

The development of the U.S. community college concept for increasing access, success, and transition in both transfer and career programs has been well documented (Cohen & Brawer, 2003). With such success has come increased international interest in both the organizational model of the community college and the instructional approaches taken…

The case study approach is commonly used in the fields of law, medicine, and business administration to help apply theory to practice. This approach is equally useful in the teaching and learning of mathematics since various categories of coping strategies used to alleviate math anxiety become more meaningful when they are used to assist "real"…

Community college educators seek to infuse their workforce courses with more "real world" activities. This 3-year case study examined how 7 instructors and 78 students in California and Texas responded to the changes involved in implementing one type of reform program--the scenario-based curriculum (Schank, 1997). The study shows that…

The case study approach is commonly used in the fields of law, medicine, and business administration to help apply theory to practice. This approach is equally useful in the teaching and learning of mathematics since various categories of coping strategies used to alleviate math anxiety become more meaningful when they are used to assist "real"…

The author describes the workshop he presented at Desert Vista Campus of the Pima Community College System on the use of case studies in science. During the workshop the participants developed their own cases and presented their cases to a group of students that were hired to act as expert critics. The faculty, usually in pairs, presented their…