Asserts that becoming adept at understanding the logic of subjects, issues, and questions is a competency that, once learned, becomes a foundation for highly skilled and practical teaching and learning. Promotes the model of teaching students to seek the logic of things through the logic of science. (VWC)

Study of Upward Bound programs, designed to help disadvantaged high school students attend and succeed in college, finds participants have higher educational expectations and college-preparatory achievement than do nonparticipants; Hispanic students and students with initially lower expectations benefit most; there is no impact on students' high…

Reports the findings of a study examining developmental mathematics courses at two-year colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Argues that remediation is a core function of higher education and a good investment for society, as well as for colleges and universities. Discusses data on credit hours, enrollment, attendance, class size,…

Contends that developmental students can become more self-regulated in learning, appraising need for further study, deploying strategies to meet needs, and assessing their learning progress by using self-monitoring assignment record sheets developed by teachers. States that systematically tracking their performance helps students take ownership…

Summarizes the implementation of a new General Education Program at Kean University, which sets forth a vertical, skills-based curriculum. The program directly addresses developmental education, calling for a restructuring of ways to deliver it and a vision for incorporating it into the University curriculum. (VWC)

Describes an innovative curriculum project at Piedmont Community College in North Carolina called CONCUR, which designed classes specifically for developmental students, applying the principles of contextual learning by creating the context of a publishing company. Discusses motivation, grading, the reading workshop, providing books, pages…

Presents the results of a two-part survey on developmental education in four-year colleges and universities. Describes the requirements, staffing, and enrollment in the programs, and assesses the extent to which a subsample of developmental mathematics instructors follow the standards established by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.…

States that learning assistance centers are often caught in the throws of controversy at institutions of higher education. Examines some of the causal contributors to this controversy in an attempt to help learning assistance professionals identify the strategies necessary to preserve their centers' integrity in good and difficult financial times.…

Presents an interview with Dr. Martha Maxwell, author of five books on student learning skills, regarding the field of developmental education. Discusses how developmental education began and where Dr. Maxwell sees it going. Describes her feelings about the recent attempts at privatization; the chronic funding problems; and the ongoing question of…

Addresses the impact of Supplemental Instruction (SI) on students in a large urban university. Questions, specifically, what academic performance benefit is realized beyond the target course supported by SI, and whether SI participation strengthens the persistence patterns of particular student populations. Finds that SI has substantial impact on…

Reviews World Wide Web sites, specifically those related to the professional growth of developmental educators and students. Cites two Web pages in particular--the College Reading and Learning Association and Webliography--that offer many valuable resources. Contains 53 Web site addresses. (AS)

Argues that many developmental students succeed in college regardless of their basic academic ability and high school records. Presents data that suggest that, as a predictor of academic success over time, conscientiousness combined with metacognitive study skills is superior to ACT test performance. Suggests that proper developmental learning…

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…

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a strong network of committed colleagues to launch an initiative like "SENSE." From its conception in fall 2006 to the first national administration in fall 2009, the Survey of Entering Student Engagement ("SENSE") has been supported by key individuals and groups, without whom there would have been…

Using data from Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, this issue of "Data Notes" looks at student developmental education and gateway course outcomes by gender. The data show that more than half of students were referred to developmental math, with female students being more likely to be referred than male students. Females were more…