States that sixty-three percent of 125 developmental students who participated in a retention study in fall of 1995 subsequently left the university, citing financial and academic problems. Recommends improving student retention through the use of early introduction of financial, academic and career counseling, and development of a freshmen…

Describes an action research project among community colleges that explored the implementation of successful distance learning programs for developmental math courses. Highlights include learner motivation; use of technology; developmental learner profiles; and combinations of campus support services and distance learning delivery systems. (LRW)

Suggests that higher education historians often ignore or minimize the history of developmental education. Argues that this memory distortion may be an effort to avoid the discomfort of facing the history of inequity in higher education. (Contains 28 references.) (NB)

Discusses a developmental education theory that unites three concepts: self-regulation, demandingness, and responsiveness. Cites examples to illustrate the application of these concepts, specifically in developmental mathematics programs that use computer-mediated and lecture courses. States that such a theory should permit organization of…

Outlines the differences between inferences and assumptions in critical thinking processes. Explains that as students develop critical intuitions, they increasingly notice how their point of view shapes their experiences. (AUTH/NB)

Examines the effectiveness of a personalized learning assistance intervention to overcome developmental students' procrastination in a computer-based introductory psychology course taught with the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI). An evaluation of the intervention suggests that it was effective in getting the procrastinating students to…

The author of this article discusses the needs of developmental Latino/Latina students. As a white, middle-aged, female developmental educator, she is aware of the cultural differences. She has tried telling herself that when teaching developmental English, what matters is her knowledge of English composition. Good organization, solid development,…

Developmental mathematics students are generally students who are at risk of dropping out of school because of various factors. Many are nontraditional students who have jobs and families; others are traditional students who lack the skills needed to succeed in the college environment. Math anxiety, fear, and intimidation often affect…

Adolescents today face increasing challenges, while the support systems that should help them meet and surmount those challenges are rapidly disappearing. Yearly statistics on teen substance abuse, depression, suicide, and violent crime continue to escalate. Teens with low attachments to school are most vulnerable because they are less likely to…

Community college developmental English students passed Composition I at a higher rate than did non-developmental students, confirming the effectiveness of developmental English courses. However, the lack of a significant relationship between placement test scores and students' grades in all writing-intensive courses raised concerns about…

Effective professional learning requires that staff developers thoughtfully plan to meet varying teacher needs and be responsive to differences--that they model the differentiation teachers will practice in the classroom. Staff developers must be mindful of participants' current learning needs and plan according to their readiness, interest, and…

One of the greatest challenges that community colleges face in their efforts to increase graduation rates is improving the success of students in their developmental, or remedial, education programs--the courses that students without adequate academic preparation must take before they can enroll in courses for college credit. Emphasizing results…

The purpose of this study was to develop a profile of the literacy histories of developmental reading students enrolled in a South Texas college. A literacy history questionnaire was used to collect written responses regarding the students' early literacy experiences prior to entering the college setting. Analysis of the written responses…

Since the beginning of the American experience, labels have been used to describe generations. Among them are the "Puritan generation," the "greatest generation," the "baby boomer generation" and the "MTV generation." Today, people are creating a new generation--the "lost generation." The lost generation represents a large and growing population…

While the promotion of literacy is a fundamental mission for all librarians, over the past decades the definition has expanded and, paradoxically, fragmented into various multiliteracies, such as computer literacy, visual literacy, media literacy, and so forth. From these, a broader concept of student competencies, one that includes both…