[Return to ERIC Digest Search Page]
"Remedial education," "academic upgrading," and "basic skills instruction," are among the many terms used to describe higher education programs for students who are not academically prepared for college-level work. Regardless of the semantics, remediation is a continuing challenge for higher education institutions. This is especially true for community colleges where the majority of students requiring remedial curricula is concentrated. In an effort to increase financial efficiency and learning effectiveness, community colleges have investigated the use of technology and computer-aided instruction in remedial education (Wilson, 1992; McMillan, Parke & Lanning, 1997). Over the past few decades, a burgeoning technology industry has struggled for a place in the traditional education system. The real question regarding technology use in higher education curriculum is not "whether to use computers in education, but how" (Rapp & Gittinger, 1993, p. 2). Many potential benefits of computer-aided instruction have been suggested including privacy, objectivity, timeliness of feedback, individuation of learning, flexibility, convenience, and a non-threatening learning environment for students (Wilson, 1992). These features of computer-aided instruction appear to offer an arena for the integration of educational goals with technological advancements in remedial education.
This Digest discusses two specific computer-aided instruction systems used in remedial education programs at two-year colleges in the United States and Canada: SYNERGY and INVEST. Additionally, general observations regarding the student outcomes from the use of these computer-based systems will be addressed including some critical points regarding the implementation and adjustment process for institutions utilizing technology and computers in remedial education programs.
A pre-test determines where students are placed initially within the lessons in each subject area. These computerized lessons provide information and opportunities for practice in the four subject areas. Performance on a post-test measures students' mastery of the subjects. A successful performance on the post-test allows the student to advance to the next module of pre-test and lessons in that tier. Instructors are made aware of student difficulties through a "lock out" mechanism on the program. That is, after the maximum number of unsuccessful attempts (as previously determined by the instructor) is reached on the mastery tests, the program will freeze and require the student to see the instructor in order to continue the program (Moore, 1993).
Another means instructors used to communicate with students in the Nova Scotia Community College INVEST project is a computerized journal. One file of the journal is private, and students are encouraged to write in it daily. The other file is an interactive teacher-student journal. Students are expected to write comments, concerns and questions on a daily basis, and the instructor reads and responds to the student communication. According to both Wilson (1992) and Moore (1993), student gains were achieved in both reading and math. The increase in reading was not significantly different from the gains found in reading among students in a traditional, non-computerized remedial program. However, the increase in mathematics achievement using the INVEST system, particularly in the areas of mathematical concepts and problem solving, was greater than the gains in classrooms using traditional teaching approaches (Wilson, 1992; Moore, 1993).
Project SYNERGY is an instructional management system that was developed through the efforts of 19 two-year colleges and three four-year colleges under the direction of Miami-Dade Community College in Miami, FL. The system and instructional software are the result of research conducted by 39 faculty members at four institutions. They reviewed over 298 software packages to assess quality, amass a bank of questions to test for basic skills mastery, and conduct software implementation tests (Anandam, 1994). The end product of the review is the Project SYNERGY integrator, an adaptive, computerized management system for remedial education (Anandam, 1994).
The Project SYNERGY Integrator (PSI) facilitates basic-skills development through a Windows-driven access module for the student and command module for the instructor. The integration of these two modules allows instructors to set preferences, monitor the students' progress, receive reports, modify the curriculum, send e-mail, and personally intervene in the learning process. Additionally through the system, the student is able to create a personalized curriculum based on computerized placement tests. The student is also able to ask for assistance from other students or the instructor at any time during the learning process.
The first of these observations is that "self-paced," "self-directed," and "self-sufficient" computerized technology used by students in remedial programs may change the role of the instructor to that of a facilitator, but the computer does not replace the instructor. The role of the instructor is critical in the management of the educational systems, especially in introducing students to computer use (sometimes for the first time), and monitoring and providing timely feedback on the student's progress. In one sample of feedback from students using the INVEST program at the Cumberland Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College System, 80 percent stated they wanted more time with the instructor to confirm what they were learning from the computerized lessons (Moore, 1993). However, one main complaint of instructors was that various systems of computer-aided remedial instruction require the instructor to function so much as a "system manager" that the role of the instructor as a "learning facilitator" may suffer (Wilson, 1992; Moore, 1993; Perry & Ford, 1994). Clearly this is an area for refinement in the future of computer-assisted remedial instruction.
A second general observation from many institutions using these types of programs is that collaborative learning is a critical component to computer-assisted remedial education. Student-to-student communication was either a built-in component to the computer system or was strongly encouraged in remedial/developmental programs. Student and instructor feedback indicated that this was easy to accomplish through e-mail and Local Area Networks and was an important part of the learning process.
Finally, researchers have identified certain student, faculty, and institutional features that facilitate the implementation and success of these computer-assisted remedial education systems. Perry and Ford (1994) cite mature, independent students, a sophisticated computer system, and a well-equipped computer lab. Cornell, Fazio, Florschuetz, Howard, Leyva, Martinez, Mee, O'Brien and Reinders (1996) found a relevant and holistic curriculum with clear learning objectives to be integral to success. Anandam (1994) lists such features as faculty involvement, an institutional commitment to technology, faculty development programs, and realistic expectations and assessment procedures.
Cornell, V., Fazio, G., Florschuetz, T., Howard, L., Leyva, R., Martinez, T., Mee, G., O'Brien, P., and Reinders, D. (February, 1996). "An Anatomy of an Innovation: Balancing the Needs of Developmental Students with the Needs of an Institution." Paper presented at the Annual International Conference of the National Community College Chair Academy, Phoenix, AZ. (ED 394 545)
McMillan, V.K., Parke, S. and Lanning, C.A. (1997). "Remedial/Developmental Education Approaches for the Current Community College Environment." New Directions for Community Colleges, 25 (4), 21-32. (ED number forthcoming)
Moore, A. (May, 1993). "Computer Assisted Instruction (ILS) for Adults." Paper presented at the Annual International Conference of the National Institute for the Staff and Organizational Development on Teaching Excellence and Conference Administrators, Austin, TX. (ED 377 897)
Perry, P. and Ford, C. (November, 1994). "Our First Year of Guides." Paper presented at the Annual Conference on Information Technology of the League for Innovation in the Community College, Houston, TX. (ED 376 885)
Rapp, R.H. and Gittinger, D.J. (November, 1993). "Using Computers to Accommodate Learning Disabled Students in Mathematics Classes." Paper presented at the Annual Conference on Information Technology of the League for Innovation in the Community College, Nashville, TN. (ED 364 272)
Wilson, A.M. (1992). "The INVEST Program: A Computer-Based System for Adult Academic Upgrading. A Pilot Study." Research report, Cumberland Campus of Nova Scotia Community College. (ED 377 896)
The ERIC Clearinghouse is administered by the National Library of Education and operates under OERI Contract No. RR93002003. The opinions expressed in this digest do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of NLE/OERI and no official endorsement by NLE/OERI should be inferred.
###