I am a founding member of CalADE (California Association for Developmental Education. At the organization's first annual conference in November, I presented on the topic of Brain Development and Learning Preferences. You can view my Powerpoint presentation by clicking the URL below:
Developmental education is an approach to education in the area of higher learning which focuses on helping students reach their full potential. While developmental education often focuses on learners who are struggling, it's applicable to students at all levels of ability. Many colleges have programs which provide assistance to students of all levels, and educators can be found associated with these programs and working in professional organizations which are designed to advance this field within the education community.
The precepts of developmental education are rooted in learning theory and developmental psychology. Advocates for developmental education point out that people learn in a wide variety of ways, and that with a little bit of assistance, students can often achieve high levels of academic performance.
Assistance can take a number of forms, including tutoring and coaching, special classes, homework assistance, counseling, and accommodations for test taking. Developmental educators try to avoid the term “remedial” when discussing the programs they work in, to avoid stigmatizing or humiliating students. By assisting students who may be struggling, developmental educators can give these students a chance to succeed, rather than allowing them to fall by the wayside.
Academic success is very important to developmental educators, as are demonstrable persistence and retention. A number of tools can be used to see how successful a student is, including looking at test results and grades, and interviewing the student to see if he or she is becoming more confident, capable, and self-assured. Goals may be set for a student at an early stage, so that a frame of reference can be created for evaluating progress.
Although developmental education is focused on how students learn and improving student capabilities, it also encompasses other aspects of the student, including physical health and emotional well-being. By looking at the whole student, educators acknowledge that learning does not occur in a vacuum, and that it's important to address issues like personal life when dealing with a student who needs some extra help. Occasionally, students need help with social and psychological problems much more than assistance with school work, and approaches can provide this needed support.
Postsecondary institutions offer a variety of programs and support services, designed to promote retention and student success. For many first-year college students, support services are critical to their adapting. Research on student support services confirms the importance of student engagement in their respective colleges and universities. Studies on college student attrition show that "the first year student's most critical transition period occurs during the first semester" (Singer, as cited in Stewart, Brewer, & Wright, 2006, p. 22). Students are more likely to persist when they have greater involvement with their classes, peers, and the campus environment (Stewart et al., 2006). For developmental students, it's critical that they connect with their institution and develop a system of academic and social supports (Stewart et al., 2006).
The precepts of developmental education are rooted in learning theory and developmental psychology. Advocates for developmental education point out that people learn in a wide variety of ways, and that with a little bit of assistance, students can often achieve high levels of academic performance.
Assistance can take a number of forms, including tutoring and coaching, special classes, homework assistance, counseling, and accommodations for test taking. Developmental educators try to avoid the term “remedial” when discussing the programs they work in, to avoid stigmatizing or humiliating students. By assisting students who may be struggling, developmental educators can give these students a chance to succeed, rather than allowing them to fall by the wayside.
Academic success is very important to developmental educators, as are demonstrable persistence and retention. A number of tools can be used to see how successful a student is, including looking at test results and grades, and interviewing the student to see if he or she is becoming more confident, capable, and self-assured. Goals may be set for a student at an early stage, so that a frame of reference can be created for evaluating progress.
Although developmental education is focused on how students learn and improving student capabilities, it also encompasses other aspects of the student, including physical health and emotional well-being. By looking at the whole student, educators acknowledge that learning does not occur in a vacuum, and that it's important to address issues like personal life when dealing with a student who needs some extra help. Occasionally, students need help with social and psychological problems much more than assistance with school work, and approaches can provide this needed support.
Postsecondary institutions offer a variety of programs and support services, designed to promote retention and student success. For many first-year college students, support services are critical to their adapting. Research on student support services confirms the importance of student engagement in their respective colleges and universities. Studies on college student attrition show that "the first year student's most critical transition period occurs during the first semester" (Singer, as cited in Stewart, Brewer, & Wright, 2006, p. 22). Students are more likely to persist when they have greater involvement with their classes, peers, and the campus environment (Stewart et al., 2006). For developmental students, it's critical that they connect with their institution and develop a system of academic and social supports (Stewart et al., 2006).
For a full spectrum of facts and data regarding developmental education in community colleges, click on this Developmental Education Toolkit.
In some arenas Developmental Education is also referred to as Basic Skills. In this electronic brochure regarding California Community Colleges a list of best practices is spelled out based on Hunter Boylan's research through NADE.
