One of the challenges for educators is composing well-written, specifically stated outcomes of student learning. Developmental teacher training is a program designed to improve the effectiveness of university instructors. The program focuses on improving course methodology by guiding instructors through the development of correctly written and…

Noting that the University of Illinois' Special Options Rhetoric program is designed for special admit students who score 15 or below on ACT tests, this paper investigates the efficacy of the program to help marginal students, and also includes information on writing programs at the University of Michigan and Ohio University. An introduction…

A study was conducted to evaluate the writing component of the Catonsville (Maryland) Community College Advancement Studies Program (ASP), a comprehensive plan of three core courses for developmental students. The study's nine hypotheses focused on general improvement of ASP student writing abilities, the specific areas of such improvement, and…

In order to determine the validity of using the Cooperative English Test (CET) for placement in remedial writing, Queensborough Community College initiated a study using the Holistic Reading Method to rate essays written by a random sample of 204 incoming freshman in fall 1973. Three regular English and three remedial English instructors were…

Nearly 37% (80 students) of the 219 entering, first-time freshmen, who were enrolled in second-level (requiring high school level skills) developmental reading and composition courses at the Community College of Allegheny County, were block-enrolled into a social science/history elective, "Man, Time, and Social Change." The same group of…

To evaluate the effectiveness of a developmental composition course for students without adequate basic skills, a comparative analysis was conducted of the course grades of students (1) taking the developmental course, (2) repeating the developmental course, (3) taking the required composition course, and (4) taking the required course after…

The purpose of this project was to develop a more relevant and utilitarian English/language arts and communications media program for technical school students in Grades 10-12. During Phase I, the curriculum was developed by a team of teachers and implemented at each of the grade levels. Evaluation of the program was accomplished through surveying…

The Learning Center at Glendale Community College is described in this four-part report which also evaluates the success of the Center in meeting the needs of new, nontraditional students. Part I reviews the literature dealing with the high dropout rate of nontraditional students admitted via the "open door" and provides definitions for the terms…

Analyzes the adjustments and changes that have evolved from the inception of a pilot portfolio program through the fifth semester of its implementation in a developmental English class. The program allows for authentic, performance-based assessment and challenges students to assume more control of their writing. Asserts that the final portfolio…

An evaluation is presented of the remedial programs in each of New Jersey's 32 public colleges and universities. The academic outcome of full-time students entering in fall 1984 is tracked over four semesters. This analysis combines measures of the colleges' administrative efficiency in testing and enrolling students in needed remedial courses,…

Describes Laney College's Project Bridge, a basic skills program designed for underprepared community college students. Discusses the program's basic tenets (i.e., student-centered classrooms, the primacy of spoken language, and incorporation of minority group culture and international awareness). Considers the program's goals and organizational…

These four reports resulted from a series of studies undertaken by the Community College of Allegheny County to evaluate its Block Scheduling Project, which schedules students into a block of developmental courses centered around a core, transferable course in either psychology or history. The first report briefly describes the project, considers…

The prevalence of underprepared students attending colleges, the need to define literacy requirements of courses, the implications of research on literacy in the design of remedial programs, and the need for systematic evaluation of such programs are considered. Literacy is broadly defined as a language competence that is used to achieve both…

An evaluation of an academic support program at the University of Missouri-Columbia is discussed. The Learning Center's support program provides assistance in writing, math, study skills, reading, science, and other subjects, as well as individual and small group tutoring. The Learning Center keeps computer records of each student's participation…

A project designed to evaluate the quality of basic skills programs in writing, reading, and mathematics, which was implemented at a regional university and a community college within a statewide system in the Southeastern United States, is described. A multiple-indicator strategy was used, involving both short-range and long-range postprogram…