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Show II p9uj 10 smogo injjsaqo qn6 aip Ae)0 sbm egj '(OOU IOS surprise7- ci I 1? Education" Seminar offers Dixie is way ahead in developmental education or and their skill levels Those of you who read this column (is there anyone else out there?) and those who are working with me in writing and reading know that was out of town for four days two weeks ago. New Orleans! The National Council on Developmental Education! Both fantastic! The first entertained me royallymy first visit to Cajun country; the second provided so much food for thought that it will be weeks before get it all I I digested. One of the nice results of my learning was the realization that, measured on the scale of right" practices put forth by the conference leaders, Dixie has a lot going for it. We do already have a learning center, a writing lab, counselors whose first concern is of students. We g the are developing more and better open entryopen exit courses, which allow students to begin where they are ready and at the level they are operating on and finish when they have reached their goals, be it five weeks, ten, or thirty. These have the added advantage of allowing learners to choose the times they work on their skills and often the kinds of activities they engage in. These tailor-mad- e classes are the classes of the present and certainly of the future according to the people at the conference. Next year, too, we will even have a few variable credit classes, another innovation which allows students to adjust the credit they receive in the classes to the amount of concentration and time they want to expend on them. The philosophy behind these modifications of the traditional is that students are individuals with different skills and knowledge levels and different needs and desires. Community colleges that are attracting and retaining students are those that recognize that truth and adjust their services to it. But if Dixie is judged against the prevailing philosophy of the conference, we do fall short in several areas. We do not have an assessment (testing) program which helps students determine well-bein- in reading math before they try courses. We do not have a general studies division or something similar devoted to helping students improve their reading, writing, math, study, and personal living skills, skills essential to living in the academic world and out of it at high levels of achievement and personal satisfaction. Statistics shown at the conference suggest strongly that students who take courses in these areas finish regular courses sooner than those who dont and with surprisingly similar levels of achievement and stay in school to finish -- programs. One other idea worthy of some thought is the shifting of emphasis in many community colleges tract from the traditional two-ye- ar to more flexible time frames. In many, students are staying as long as three years or as briefly as the duration of a course or two. In these colleges, students direct their own curricula building with the strong support of counselors and advisors. Some earn general studies degrees; other just take classes. Some elect to take the tradiitonal sequenc s; others work at building skin or gaining POOL-HOPPfN- G The officer was not impressed the lead swimmers quick breaststroke, and told them all to hastily expose themselves to the cold night air. While he was delivering lecture 45b, subtitled Dont let the cops decidcatch you ed to be a good photo journalist and snap some pictures of the event. Courageously grabbed my camera and began shooting pictures against the strong protests of the officer; he thought I was shooting his bad side. The officer took our names and delivered us a stern warning. Slightly humbled, we decided it was time to turn our tails and head for home. Almost home, we concluded that we would not give up. We needed more photos and by pool-hoppin- g, I specialized general Knowledge areas of their own And with the blessing in and administrators. All in all, listening choosing. teachers of to people and John Roueche, Don and Gwen Rippey, Bud Hodgkinson, and Ann Poore and sharing ideas with other conference goers was a personally and professionally rewarding experience. Many of the ideas and suggestions I brought back are not applicable to Dixie at this time; many are. Luckily those that are have a good chance of making it here because we have what Millie Clark from Mississippi Gulf Junior College calls the four essentials in meeting the challenges. These are truly dedicated and supportive administration, a faculty devoted in the main to the growth of people who come here, a unique and challenging student body, and, in all three groups, a willingness to explore, change, and develop. The new decade, here we such as Suanne From Page 5 we just had to hit more than one faced pool. We once again about motel the car and headed for numero dos. Remembering the last words of the officer, we decided it wise to bend the rules and ask permisof sion to take a dip. This time, almost hoping that the officer would spy us we wanted to get climbed over the last laugh-- we the unlocked gate. Who wants to was bad go through the gate; it ask to permission enought having of the manager. After all, swiped melons always taste the best. Having received the knowledge of the nocturnal spring sport decided that it was time for me to retire from the major league after all, why make waves. pool-hoppi- I pool-hopper- s; |