Our institution has these problems also, but we are able to offer individualized help and remediation in order for the students to continue in the core classes of their chosen field.
Hi Glenn, You are very welcome! It is unfortunate that we see so many students lacking those basic skills!
Susan Polick
Susan, thanks for educating me on the need for assessing general education skills of our students. I will attempt to implement this in our trade school instruction program.
These are very important skills because nothing can be accomplished without it. If the students cannot read how will they comprehend, if they cannot write the will not be able to express themselves correctly in written form and finally math skills help the student with the problem solving aspect. All these skills are important in life not just school
We feel the same way here. Lack of assessment is very frustrating.Takes more time away from the subject we need to teach in 6 weeks.
Hi Donald, Good question! I am a firm believer in sticking to the course objectives.You will certainly need to adapt your instruction to the needs of your students, but it is a disservice to compromise the objectives of the course. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
General Education skills are the foundation upon which students can build their content area skills and competencies. It is important to not only learn these skills in Gen Ed classes but to infuse the principles of Gen Ed throughout the content areas.
As instructors, how are course objectives followed given the variance in the educational backgrounds of the students?
Assessment of of general education skills are exceedingly important not only to instructors, but also in the real world.
We need these basic skills to effective in the workplace, with each other.
In the classroom, in order to discus more challenging issues, we need to have the basics so we can build on them so we can appreciate new concepts and new ideas.
It helps to determine at which level their students are at tne commencement of a course. This is important to have a collective understanding of the level of comprehension the students posses in order to determine the most effective syle that would evoke the most learning.
Reading and writing skills are important for me so that I could understand what the students are trying to say. I teaching nursing clinical and I spend quite a bit of time trying to decipher some students writing. Just to save time, reading and writing skills would be important to me. But it is most important for giving them appropriate feedback because I understand what they are communicating.
These students dont usually tell you if they are lacking in somethng.That in turn makes them feel inadequate, if they fall behind.
Hi Daisy, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, as a general education instructor, I know how those skills play a huge role in my students success! Best wishes for an excellent July quarter!
Susan Polick
Off Topic Side Note:
Your comment makes me smile. I think today's parenting experts advise parents NOT to discipline students for incidents that happen at school in cases where the school administered discipline and the student complied.
Excellent Erin! I'd love to know more information about what's in your assessment given on the first day!
This is a good topic especially in a vocational college. Assessing general education skills is important. this will help the instructor understand where the student is starting and how much or little instruction can be given to students.
It gives the instructor a view of what the students know so the instruction can be varied as needed.
I totally hear you Olga, It's sad that we are going over basic math skills in college level classes. But remember we are here to help the future generation!
You need to know the level the student is on to know where to begin with them or if they need a little extra help.
Hi Olga, Yes, unfortunately we all face this problem and can only do what we can to remediate.
Susan Polick
