Developmental Education in Higher Education

Developmental Education

Education

in

Higher

Published on : 12-27-2022 Developmental education in higher education is a process that aims to help students who are still getting ready for college-level coursework get the skills and education that they need to succeed in their careers. Many community colleges face significant challenges in educating students who still need to gain academic abilities to enter into higher-level courses.

For years, the postsecondary remediation system has relied on placement tests to determine who needs to take a developmental course. However, the research shows that there are more reliable ways to identify students who need help. Instead, it often leads to placement errors, leaving many students in unnecessary courses and wasting time and money.

For instance, many colleges now use a high school GPA and prior course taking as college readiness measures. Research has found that using multiple criteria increases placement accuracy and can help support the transition from high school to entry-level credit-bearing college coursework.

Another alternative to placing students into a developmental course is a core model. Under this approach, students take a college-level course and receive additional support. The model has been successful in several community colleges, including those in California.

Accelerating students through developmental education in higher education can improve student performance and persistence in college while reducing the overall number of exit points in a student's educational career. Many community colleges are experimenting with various strategies for this purpose.

One of the most commonly employed approaches is the "learning community" model. Students in this program co-enroll in developmental courses linked with more advanced college-level systems. These communities are often supported by additional tutoring and guidance from an instructor.

However, research on this approach is limited. Other options include the "Math Redesign" model, which compresses traditional sixteen-week developmental math courses into eight weeks. The model also incorporates computer-assisted instruction outside of class.

Another strategy for accelerating students through developmental education in higher education is the "corequisite" structure. This strategy pairs a non-credit developmental course with a

credit-bearing disciplinary content course. Research has shown this strategy to increase student performance and retention.

Community colleges have also faced unprecedented declines in enrollment. The result has been a financial crisis for many institutions. While some community colleges can find ways to expand their budgets, others are forced to reduce services or lay off staff. A recent U.S. News and World Report found that less than half of community college students graduate within six years. It recommended that these schools improve their completion rates by 50 percent by 2020.

Improving curriculum and assessment alignment between secondary and postsecondary education is essential to preparing students for college and career success. The key is creating a coherent study program that includes rigorous academic standards and relevant career and technical content. Curriculum and assessment aligned with state and national standards can make the transition from high school to college and career more manageable.

In addition to evaluating curricular components, states can also help improve instruction by using external experts to develop tools and resources for teachers. One example is the new Florida college entrance exam that aims to be more consistent with the Common Core State Standards.

Another way to improve curriculum and assessment alignment between secondary and postsecondary programs is to increase the use of high-quality, well-aligned curricula. This can be accomplished by using the procurement process for curriculum materials and developing professional development to improve teacher effectiveness.