How Do You Do It? Course & Curriculum Development for Counseling & Library Faculty Kevin Bontenbal, Cuesta College Michelle Pilati, Rio Hondo College

Description A chorus of voices point colleges toward the importance of integrating counseling and library components into the curriculum process for course and program development. Embedding a required counseling visit or library research project into a course outline is much more likely to prompt students to use resources about which they might otherwise remain ignorant.

“How do you do it?” “importance of integrating counseling and library components into the curriculum process for course and program development.” Why?

Increase student success Align with/support basic skills development in general as well as the BSI Information competency Promoting services –Increase student awareness –Increase staff and faculty awareness

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 CCLC Convention Anaheim, California, November 21, 2008 The Basic Skills Initiative: Implementation and Student Success Carole Bogue-Feinour, Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, System Office Lori Gaskin, Vice President, Academic Affairs/Student Services, Lake Tahoe Community College Robin Richards, Vice President, Student Services, College of the Siskiyous Mark Wade Lieu, President, Academic Senate, Ohlone College

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 The Basic Skills Initiative What is our System doing to improve the success of ESL & basic skills students?

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 What topics did the statewide project workshops address? Curriculum Design and Alignment Across Disciplines Integration of Instruction with Student Services Teaching Strategies and Methods of Instructional Delivery Using Technology

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 What areas are being strengthened with BSI? Professional Development – 91% of colleges Instructional Practices and Academic Support Counseling Support Integration of Instruction and Support Services Orientation, Assessment, Placement Program Evaluation & Use of Data Financial Aid to Developmental Students

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Who is being hired to help with BSI at the colleges? Tutors Coordinators Counselors

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Effective Practices in Basic Skills Area A- Organizational and Administrative Practices Area B – Program Components Area C – Staff Development Area D – Instructional Practices

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Area A - Organizational & Administrative Practices Summer “bridge” programs involving instruction and student services Learning communities programs involving instruction and student services, linking courses to labs, counselors, tutors Counselor visits to classrooms Weekly meetings between instruction and student services

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Area B-Program Components Orientation, Assessment and Placement Conduct special orientations for basic skills students Regular Program Evaluations Develop tracking system for student retention and success

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Area B-Program Components Counseling support is substantial & integrated Counselor visits to developmental education classes Assign counselor to developmental education students (case management approach)

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Area C – Staff Development Site visits, workshops, and conference participation Visiting experts Teaching learning center coordinator In-service on developmental education pedagogy

CCLC Convention - November 21, 2008 Area D – Instructional Practices Implement Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum Develop Writing, Math & Reading labs Supplemental instruction First-year college experience

Approaches Curriculum Process Courses –Stand alone –Component of an existing course Embed –Unit, assignment, or activity Linking courses – learning communities Tutorials/guides Orientations/class visits

Curriculum Process Do library and counseling services play a role in your curriculum process? Counseling examples? Library examples? Should there be a role in the curriculum process?

Curriculum Process Should library and/or counseling elements be a required component of all courses? Pros/cons?

Courses Stand alone –Library or Counseling 101 Component of an existing course –Such as?

Examples Cuesta Library –Library Research Workbook - ENGL 201A –Research Skills for the Information Age course –Online library tutorials –Library orientations

Linking courses – learning communities Linking counseling courses to other courses is common – what about linking library courses to other courses? Are there “natural fits”?

Tutorials/guides Online Paper Online unit for integration into online courses – or as an add-on for a campus- based course What is the best approach?

Orientations/class visits How do you ensure that such visits are effective? What approaches can be used to get “buy- in”? What about online classes?

Conclusions? Effectively integrating student support services is essential for student success. Do it!