Shifting The Delivery of Basic Skills Instruction: Acceleration,

Contextualization, and Other Proposed Approaches

Dianna Chiabotti, Napa Valley CollegeDavid Morse, Long Beach City College

Barry Russell, Chancellor’s Office

What is Accelerated Learning?

Acceleration ……

• Involves the reorganization of instruction and curricula in ways that facilitate the completion of academic requirements in an expedited manner.

• Does not necessarily imply that students spend less total time in class.

Some examples……..• Compressed courses

• Paired courses

• Modularization

• Curricular redesign

• Contextualized

• Mainstreaming with Supplemental Support

• Summer bridge

Recent Studies• A Model for Accelerating Academic Success of

Community College Remedial English Students: Is the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) Effective and Affordable?– Community College Research Center (CCRC), 9/10

• Accelerating the Academic Achievement of Students Referred to Developmental Education – CCRC, 2/11

• Referral, Enrollment, and Completion in Developmental Education Sequences in Community Colleges– Economics of Education Review 29 (2010)

Recent Studies Continued…..

• The Developmental Education Initiative: State Policy Framework and Strategy– Jobs for the Future, 4/11

• Student Progression Through Developmental Sequences in Community Colleges– CCRC Brief, 9/10

Potential benefits

• Encourages review of curriculum and pedagogy

• Provides additional options for students who can benefit

• May lead to enhanced supplemental instruction and support services

• Provides less exit points

Issues with Current Design and Pilots

• Current research upon which these projects are based is descriptive, not explanatory.

• Current studies often have questionable methodology and limited sample sizes.

• Current models in many cases delete or ignore parts of the current curriculum in order to speed up the sequence.

Issues with Current Design and Pilots

• Assessment for placement instruments generally are not diagnostic

• All existing accelerated programs involve additional tutoring, instructional, and counseling resources

Facets to Consider

• The faster students progress, the more likely they are to finish

• Only 31% referred to developmental math & 44% referred to developmental reading complete the sequence within 3 years

• Higher failure rates in intensive courses with heavy reading requirements

More Considerations

• Many acceleration methods cost more up-front but less in the long run

• Most require some sort of supplemental support or smaller class sizes

Important to Note that

Differences revealed in the literature between pedagogy in traditional and accelerated developmental classrooms attributed to 2 major factors:

1. Tend to attract uniquely talented and ambitious faculty that see acceleration as an opportunity to experiment

2. Extended instructional time allows more time to engage students in a variety of learning activities

Plus – more student centered approach

What can we do?

• Have collegial explicit discussions about and analysis of developmental education pedagogy

• Make sure that all changes are thoughtfully considered before they are made

• Ensure that the additional supports are in place

Additional Questions??

Thanks!