This paper reports findings from a researcher-practitioner partnership that assessed the readiness for postsecondary reading and writing demands of 211 students in developmental reading and English courses in two community colleges. An assessment battery was designed for the study, comprising two standardized tests and five projectdeveloped tasks.…

This is a review of evidence for contextualization, defined here as an instructional approach connecting foundational skills and college-level content. Two forms of contextualization are identified, "contextualized" and "integrated" instruction. Despite methodological limitations, the available studies suggest that contextualization has the…

Instructors in community college developmental education programs are constantly seeking new ways to improve outcomes for their students, but, to date, there has been a shortage of empirical studies on the effectiveness of such efforts. The current study provides evidence on the potential efficacy of an approach to helping students develop an…

This paper is a literature review that explores the nature and effectiveness of contextualization as a way to improve outcomes for academically underprepared college students. Two forms of contextualization have been studied: "contextualized" and "integrated" instruction. There is more descriptive work on the contextualization of basic skills than…

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…

A large number of community college students have difficulty with postsecondary-level reading, writing, and math demands, necessitating remedial education. A qualitative case study was conducted to investigate state and institutional practices for remediation in 15 community colleges selected for region, size, and urbanicity. The six states in…

A qualitative case study in 15 community colleges across the country found that learning assistance centers and specialized skills labs are an important means of increasing students' academic preparedness for postsecondary study. Since these facilities provide instruction or support in reading, writing, and math skills, it appears that they play a…

The community college is a major site preparing students for nursing careers, an important role at a time of a national shortage. However, many of the low socioeconomic status (SES), minority students who aspire to associates degrees in nursing display low levels of academic preparedness. An analysis of 3-year institutional data from a single…

Analyzes the traditional community college approaches to remedial education. Suggests that a more learner-centered remediation--which is based on an understanding of students' needs--in discipline courses offers students the opportunity to apply the skills they learn in ways that are meaningful, thus decreasing the dropout rate of remedial…

A qualitative case study in 15 community colleges across the country found that learning assistance centers and specialized skills labs are an important means of increasing students' academic preparedness for postsecondary study. Since these facilities provide instruction or support in reading, writing, and math skills, it appears that they play a…

This final report describes the inservice training on the problems of learning disabled college students which was provided to community college faculty and support staff in New York City in December 1989 and March 1990. Participants included coordinators for disabled students, program coordinators, instructors, and tutors. The inservice training…

A description is presented of the activities and outcomes of a project designed to provide training that would enhance the efforts of remedial educators to serve learning disabled students on campus. Introductory sections provide background on the increase of learning disabilities at community colleges, review the evidence of the need for the…