Basic Skills Across the Curriculum

Barbara Illowsky, Project Director

ASCCC Curriculum Institute, July 2008

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Who are you? How many came to last and/or this

year’s BSI trainings? How many are on your BSI

committee? How many have read the Basic Skills

as a Foundation for Success in CCC’s literature review?

How many teach a basic skills course?

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

What is the BSI?

A little history A little money A system-wide effort

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

What are Basic Skills?

Basic skills are those foundation skills in reading, writing, mathematics, learning skills, study skills, and English as a Second Language which are necessary for students to succeed in college-level work.

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Approximately what percent of Approximately what percent of California Community College students California Community College students place into at least one basic skills place into at least one basic skills course in Reading, Writing, ESL or course in Reading, Writing, ESL or

Mathematics?Mathematics?

A. 0%A. 0%

B. 25%B. 25%

C. 35%C. 35%

D. 50%D. 50%

E. Over 70%E. Over 70%

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

What percent of the students in your What percent of the students in your class probably require additional pre-class probably require additional pre-collegiate training in order to be collegiate training in order to be successful in college-level course work? successful in college-level course work?

A. 10%A. 10%

B. 20%B. 20%

C. 40%C. 40%

D. 60%D. 60%

E. Over 70%E. Over 70%

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

What percent of students who start 3 What percent of students who start 3 or more levels below college-level or more levels below college-level actually make it to a college-level actually make it to a college-level course?course?

AA. Less than 10%. Less than 10%

B. 15- 30%B. 15- 30%

C. Approximately 40%C. Approximately 40%

D. Over 60%D. Over 60%

E. 80% or more E. 80% or more 

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Of the CCC students who work, what is Of the CCC students who work, what is the AVERAGE number of hours they the AVERAGE number of hours they work per week? (as reported by the work per week? (as reported by the CCCCO)CCCCO)

A. 8 hours/weekA. 8 hours/week

B. 16 hours per weekB. 16 hours per week

C. 24 hours per weekC. 24 hours per week

D. 28 hours per weekD. 28 hours per week

E. 32 hours per week E. 32 hours per week 

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Some California Data

70%-85% of First Time Freshmen Require Developmental Education

Less than 10% of students who start 3 or more levels below ever reach college-level

Most of these findings extremely consistent in last two decades

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

The Literature Review

Basic Skills as a Foundation for Student Success in California Community Colleges

Review of the literature on successful basic skills practices & identification of effective practices based upon review

Self-assessment instrument for colleges to assess their own status

Cost/Revenue Estimation Tool

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Phase II: Regional Trainings2007

All community college districts Training and technical assistance on

the use of the Self-Assessment Tool

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Phase III: The BSI Today2008

Provide statewide research, training and support in basic skills to address professional development needs

both credit and noncredit instruction adjunct and full-time faculty administrators and staff

diversity and equity disparities CTE and general subjects

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Funding $33.1 million funding (includes $1.6

million for professional development) $100,000 minimum per college Based upon number of students in

basic skills/ESL courses in 2006-2007 Only noncredit and non-degree

applicable courses Colleges must submit an Action Plan

each year to continue to receive basic skills funds (around October 15th)

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Basic Skills Areas Traditionally

English writing Reading Mathematics English as a Second Language

But also Career and Technical Education (CTE) General Courses

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Research and Data Collection

Literature Review Addendum Equity Issues & Strategies High School to College Transition Non-credit to Credit Transition CTE Strategies, including Contextualized

Learning Data base

Survey of programs, strategies and projects

Includes California and national data

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Student Equity

Evaluate all 109 College Student Equity Plans (2005)

Identify common statewide trends Develop state resources for general

needs Gather baseline data Identify discrepancies and provide

technical assistance to individual colleges

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

EthnicityEthnicity

Ethnicity% of Total Headcount

% of Total Enrollment in Credit Basic Skills & ESL

% of Enrollment in Non-credit Basic Skills & ESL

African American 7.49% 11.24% 6.23%

Asian/ Filipino/Pac Islander

16.40% 17.00% 19.39%

Hispanic/Latino 28.79% 41.40% 43.72%

Native American 0.86% 0.92% 0.54%

White 35.40% 22.57% 18.69%

Total 100% 100% 100%

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Professional Development

Regional Meetings Integration of counseling & student

services into courses and programs Interactive learning, applying various

assessment techniques and discussing case studies

Audience: administrators, counselors, basic skills and CTE discipline department chairs, coordinators and faculty

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Regional Meetings 2008 May 9-10: Bakersfield College June 3-4: Sierra College June 3-4: Chaffey College June 5-6: Los Angeles Southwest College June 6-7: Fresno City College June 9-10: Cañada College June 9-10: San Diego Mesa College

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Summer Teaching Institute

August 10-13, 2008, Newport Beach 300 faculty registered Focus on pedagogy for basic skills, ESL,

and CTE Registration, hotel, travel, and food

covered for adjunct faculty and new faculty

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Communications

Newsletter Web Site: www.cccbsi.org Conference presentations

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Under construction … Workshops to Order

Online and face-to-face Individual or department or college

Fall CTE workshops Online pedagogy training Online resources for adjuncts BSI Handbook (will be online) –

Constructing a Framework for Success: A Holistic Approach to Basic Skills

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

On-Going Challenges

What are the on-going challenges your college faces as you move forward with your basic skills efforts?

BSI @ Curriculum Institute, July 2008

How Can You Be Involved? College Action Plan Professional Development - Teaching

strategies & programs for ESL, Basic Skills, and CTE students

BSI Handbook BSI Trainings BSI Institute BSI Web Site

It’s all about the It’s all about the students!students!

http://www.cccbsi.org http://www.cccbsi.org