Book Description

Earning a college degree improves health and economic wellbeing. Thus, American taxpayers subsidize a majority of the cost of public colleges. At least half of all college students in the U.S. today attend two-year colleges; yet, fewer than half of these students achieve their educational goals. This book, written by an experienced community college teacher summarizes specific evidence-based methods to improve student learning and completion. This book summarizes: student characteristics including socio-economic status, academic background, work/family commitments; instructional methods of work-pace, grading procedures, student practice opportunities, and feedback to students; institutional policies such as course scheduling, teaching loads, teacher training, availability of student services, commitment of administrators to using assessment to improve student learning outcomes. If you are a college student/parent of a college student, college teacher/administrator, or concerned taxpayer; you are invited to read this book and join this discussion. It is unlikely that college completion rates will significantly improve without informed communities demanding institutional action.