This article presents an interview with Dr. Muriel Harris who is considered as one of the most influential figures in writing center research and practice for over three decades. She is currently Professor Emerita of English at Purdue University. She founded The Purdue Writing Center which she directed from 1976 until 2003. She also founded…

Frank Christ is the founder and co-director of the Winter Institutes for Learning Assistance Professionals and has been actively involved with learning assistance and learning centers for the past 40 years. In this interview, Christ talks about how learning centers today differ from those with which he was associated at the beginning of his…

Dr. Byron McClenney is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Administration and serves on the staff of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas-Austin as Project Director for Achieving the Dream. He was previously the President of the Community College of Denver. As President of the Community College of…

The "Critical Thinking and the Art of Close Reading" series (which includes this column and three others) focuses on some of the most basic understandings necessary for close reading (Paul & Elder, 2003). To read well, in addition to having these understandings, students must be able to identify the big picture within a text, to determine the key…

The typical college student is unable to deeply comprehend what he or she reads. Most students have few, if any, intellectual tools that would enable them to read deeply, and then apply what they have read. The "Critical Thinking and the Art of Close Reading" series (which includes this column and the past three columns) focuses on some of the…

Reviews six principles for effective developmental education teaching, including commitment to teaching underprepared students, command of the subject matter, and ability to teach a diverse student population. Integrates research findings from successful developmental education programs and general principles for effective teaching in…

Argues that by addressing social and emotional learning within the classroom, college faculty can foster the scholarly as well as interpersonal growth of students. Suggests that sensitivities and learning within the affective domain are strongly linked to the efficacy of a successful collegiate experience. (Contains 20 references.) (NB)

Argues that the processes of locating, interpreting, and applying ideas gained from reading have remained constant, in spite of changing resources. Offers advice for structuring students' use of the Web by using an instructor-based site called WebQuest. Describes four ways to navigate this online resource. (NB)

Argues that in an era of decreased funding, postsecondary education and occupational services for disabled young adults are disappointing. Recommends using findings in the article to create an evaluation action plan as a routine component in programs targeted towards the disabled as well as any program in higher education. (Contains 22…

Argues that a student's intellectual development can be improved by interacting with students of a different ethnic background. Recommends increasing retention of minority students by focusing on developmental education in a systematic way. Also recommends that developmental educators should view diversity in the classroom as a benefit and not a…

Explores ways to help students take learning seriously and ask critical questions about their studies. Describes strategies for students to raise important questions, to distinguish between one-system and competing-systems disciplines, and how to ask questions about a field of study and textbooks. (MZ)

Discusses how technology has changed higher education and how it is important to teach developmental students to effectively use technology to become better students and more effective workers. Describes a variety of portable devices and learning strategy applications. Recommends that developmental educators seriously consider the use of Personal…

Argues that writing is a social practice, and as such, student writing should be thought of as part of the larger society. Reports on responses from 393 (over 50% of those solicited) students in developmental writing courses, which indicate that students want to feel they have a stake in their own learning. (Contains 26 references.) (NB)

Focuses on three key ideas students need to understand in order to become master students: the importance of ideas or concepts in thinking, how to think within the ideas of a subject or discipline, and how to learn important ideas from textbooks. Makes suggestions to students, including creating a glossary of ideas learned in each course. (NB)

Interview with president of the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), the first Mexican-American woman president of a college or university in the United States. Discusses degree-granting partnership formed between UTB and Texas Southmost College, a community college, and other issues. (NB)