This qualitative research study sought to understand the affordances and limitations of a systemic functional linguistics (SFL) approach to teaching composition at the community college level. The study took place over the course of a semester in two developmental college composition classes using the language of SFL to teach writing through…

Argues for learning communities as a fruitful milieu for cognitive development and knowledge construction. Provides a metaphor of a constructivist learning community organization grounded on French scientist and philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's theory of evolution. Asserts that Teilhardian thought is useful for conceptualizing a…

Describes three relational patterns of community college students in their course experience: survivor, adjustor, and encounterer. Uses Passmore's theory of closed and open capacities as a framework for a model of planning and implementing instruction to move students from survivors or adjustors to encounterers. (Contains 12 references.) (AUTH/NB)

Analyzes effectiveness of learning communities (LCs), which deliberately restructure the curriculum to build a community of learners among students and faculty. Reports that, although LCs have been praised, there continues to be a lively debate among community college educators as they examine and assess how LCs might best help them serve…

A study was conducted at Harcum Junior College in order to ascertain what modes of learning students preferred and to determine which of these learning modes afforded the students the most enjoyment. A survey was distributed to the student body; a 50% rate of response was achieved. Results indicated that students felt they learned most from class…

Describes Learning Choices, an orientation course developed by the author and offered at Northern Virginia Community College. States that the course was designed to give students control over what they learn, how they learn it, and how the learning outcome is measured. Suggests that new teaching strategies, such as distance learning, make…

Discusses the teaching perspective of Systemocentrism, or teacher/learner-centeredness, and two of its main elements: (1) attention to teachers' and learners' inner experience; and (2) attention to the intersubjective systems that develop among teachers and learners. Suggests that Systemocentrism provides faculty developers with a new tool for…

Focuses on the benefits provided by telecommunication and the adaptation of distance learning models in higher education. Argues that distance learning is cost-effective, time-effective, accessible, and flexible, and that varying student populations and a changing economy make distance education a vital new tool. (NB)

Reports on a study of critical thinking goals in senior capstone courses. Finds that: (1) independent research and group projects are the most effective methods to teach critical thinking, according to faculty; and (2) students felt that they expanded their intellectual curiosity and learned to think more effectively because of these courses.…

Sixty-six students were enrolled in a combined Social Science-English experimental section which permitted them their choice of learning method. Options available were lecture, small group, programmed instruction, directed study and community involvement, and students were encouraged to try a variety of approaches. Six questions relating to…

At Queensborough Community College, the City University of New York, 60% of incoming freshmen were placed into remedial-writing classes in 2001, and 43.9% of these incoming freshmen were from foreign, non-English speaking countries. Before these students could advance into credit courses, they were required to pass both their remedial-writing…

A study was conducted to determine the Jungian personality types of selected groups of student and registered nurses, to identify their preferred learning styles, to ascertain the relationship between personality type and preferred learning style, and to identify the most productive learning styles for given personality types. Subjects'…