Engaging our Most Challenged Students: The Academic Library's Role in Developmental Education

Kristina Appelt - Prairie State CollegeTish Hayes – Oakton C.C./Moraine Valley C.C.Terra Jacobson - Moraine Valley C.C.

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Library

Who are our students?

•IEL/ELL/ESL

•Developmental Programs

•Literacy Tutoring Programs

•Adult Ed programs

Literacy FactsStudents Taking Any Remedial Education Courses

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003-04 and 2007-08 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04 and NPSAS:08)

03-04 07-08 % Increase

Public 2 yr 23.0% 23.9% 3.9

Public 4 yr 21.3% 25.3% 18.8

Public 4 yr (PhD)

16.3% 17.2% 5.5

Private 4 yr

14.4% 16.5% 14.6

Private 4 yr (PhD

11.7% 13.3% 13.7

Literacy FactsPercent of Adults (16 and older) lacking basic literacy skills

U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy

English as a Second Language

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d10/tables/dt10_433.asp

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/adulted/tables/table_2.asp

1992 2003

Illinois 15% 13%

Cook County 22% 19%

Needs•Varied pace

•Contextualized Instruction

•Customized

• Individualized

•Set time constraint

•Create community

•Familiarity

• Interaction

•Self-awareness

Challenges for students with low English language literacy levels

• Range of motivation and levels

• Used to different kinds of libraries, limited view

• Read for main point, but need details

• Library vocabulary, never been in a library

• Popular and fiction does not equal easy to read.

• Long time to succeed (5-7 years) for full comprehension. (30%-50% pass rate for beginners)

• The view that all of these areas can be categorized into one approach

Ideas and Opportunities for libraries

Developmental & Literacy Tutoring

ESL/IEL

• Basic definition handouts• Employment focus • Space for tutoring• One on One appointments• Shorter sessions, 30 min.• Customized library tour• Be an “answer” person• Targeted advertising• Other library services

• Focus on “sourcing”• Help them structure

questions• Book clubs for non-native

speakers• Hands on/interactive

sessions• Multiple read through• Encourage group work• Develop a sense of

community• Librarians attend student

presentations

Case StudiesCollection Development

Instruction

Collection Development

Engaging Students Through Our CollectionsConsiderations for collection development:

•Population Needs•Variety of Formats•Age Appropriate Content•Low-Vocab/High Interest

Engaging Students Through Our Collections

http://marvel.com/universe/File:Youngavengers02.jpg

Graphic Novels and Urban Fiction

Instruction

Library Instruction: Making an Impact

• Reflections (or mistakes I made)

• Learning Objectives

• Identifying Opportunities

Photo by: Todd Binger

Group Discussion 1

•How do we make it easy for students to feel like part of the library community?

•How can we cultivate a culture of reading on campus?

Group Discussion 2

•How can libraries be involved in curriculum development and support?

•What other opportunities are there for outreach?

Group Discussion 3

•What other departments can we develop relationships with outside of English/ Communications departments?

•How can we meet the needs of developmental math classes?

Group Discussion 4

•How can the library curate collections that better meet the needs of students with literacy needs?

•What collections could be developed to focus reading assignments?

Group Discussion 5

•What learning objectives are appropriate for students in developmental or ESL classes?

•How can library instruction better engage students with lower literacy levels?