The definition of "Developmental education" is the education of those students who don't have the prerequisites (what these are is open to discussion) to take college level courses.  SOme places (such as here) have mandatory placement testing; many other colleges are "open enrolment" because they believe in the "freedom to fail."  (It's a topic like unto the reading wars :-))
 
There are three or four general areas of focus in developmental education:  reading/wriitng/language skills, math/numeracy skills, study/management skills, and attitude issues ('attitude adjustments' connotes images that don't necessarily apply).
 
Exactly as in literacy, it can be easy to see one of those factors much more clearly than others... and then wonder why we're only reaching X % of the students.  
 
This morning I worked with a lady on a reading assignment.  She was supposed to figure out the meaning of "protective coloration" from context clues.  She figured that color had to be protecting just from the words... but she didn't have the background knowledge to know why being a tan mouse on sand would be protective.  She speculated that the dangers to a mouse in the desert would be mouse poisons and heat.  As soon as the idea of predators was introduced, she understood why blending in would be a good idea.   Sometimes it ain't decoding - except maybe that was why she didn't get this in K-12, and it ain't attitude - except maybe it was emotional stuff that meant she didn't pick that up in K-12, and it *really* isn't work ethic (and hers is so solid that I'm pretty sure it's been there for a while).  However, if she didn't have support, she would be one of those statistics. 
 
 
 
 
Susan Jones
Academic Development Specialist
Academic Development Center
Parkland College
Champaign, IL  61821
sujones at parkland.edu
Webmastress,
http://www.resourceroom.net


>>> AWilder106 at aol.com 02/20/06 7:57 AM >>>


Susan--

Would you please define "developmental education" for me?

Thanks.

Andrea 

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